Why Deepika Padukone replaced Kiran Rao as President of the Mumbai Film Festival

Earlier Tuesday, the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI) announced that Kiran Rao was stepping down from the presidency of the festival, a position she had held since 2014, the year of the resignation of Shyam Benegal and MAMI. risen from his deathbed.

His replacement, however, was a surprise: Bollywood star Deepika Padukone.

A report Mumbai Mirror stated that "the remarkable evolution of Padukone into a credible actor, his connection with youth and his incredible work to raise awareness of mental health" played a crucial role in the decision.

But there is more than that. HuffPost India two people familiar with the changing situation, said that Padukone as president would ensure that the festival receives the financial support needed to stay afloat.

The decision to elect Padukone was formally made on Jan. 17 at a meeting which was held at the office of festival director, Anupama Chopra, in Mumbai, in the presence of Padukone board members, directors Zoya Akhtar, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Kabir Khan, MAMI Creative Director, Smriti Kiran and Kaustubh Dhavse, Deputy Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra.

The decision is unanimous and the two persons mentioned above state that only one person has reservations, which she clearly stated at the beginning – Padukone herself.

Padukone, these people said, was not quite convinced of the idea of ​​presiding a film festival, what she admits herself "has a limited knowledge of it".

has never claimed to have any knowledge of film festivals or any expertise in art and film cinema. In fact, she repeatedly asked, "Are you sure of that? Should we really do that? ", Said one of those people under the guise of anonymity.

Padukone also said that she would not make long-term commitment of five years and would remain on board for a year things are going on, "said the person.

So, why exactly does the council want to have it?

"For the big sponsors to be happy," said the person.

"Unfortunately, the marketing of the festival and the guarantee that money keeps coming back has become one of the dominant characteristics.And for better or for worse, Bollywood is the only way for sponsors to stay around, because the presence of a big star guarantees a huge media coverage, "added the person.

The second person cited above confirmed

A few weeks before the election of Padukone to the presidency, Rao and Chopra had informed the board of directors that it would step down.The festival officials had also asked members of the board of directors of propose a replacement whose name would attract sponsors and ensure that the highest level of Bollywood is present at the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival, two events very m diatisés.

Priyanka Chopra and Karan Johar were other names considered for the position, but the consensus finally turned Padukone.

Another key person HuffPost India confirmed that having Padukone was largely a strategic marketing decision.

"Look, if you try to be a purist about it, you will not be organizing a festival. in the first place. Now, the presence of stars ensures a certain visibility that does not restrict the festival to a bubble of film artists. This helps the MAMI to integrate. It was a motivator to have him on board and no one complained, "said the person.

We learn that there was complete transparency in the the nature of these conversations and Padukone was well aware that she was elected to ensure participation

For what, Padukone said, at the same meeting of January 17, that if her participation contributed to the wider cause of the festival, she was in agreement.

Against the argument that a festival president has an intimate understanding of the operation of a film festival and that it also has sufficient knowledge of the festival's films, a source said that the president's message "in any case, it is an honorary title."

"The daily work of the festival is carried out by the director (Anupama Chopra) and the creative producer (Smriti Kiran). "

MAMI's need to have a Bollywood A-lister hea dline a film festival that aims to present an alternative to the Bollywood commercial rate shows how much India needs better financial models dedicated to While the Maharashtra government offers monetary support, the recent MAMI initiative suggests that it is not enough to cover the costs of running the show.

Sources also spoke of Padukone, who was already a member of the board of directors and who had been the voice of reason in previous MAMI meetings, we learn that his celebrity has often helped to make his point.

recalled a meeting held in October 2018, shortly after HuffPost India published an article detailing a serious allegation of badual badault against Vikas Bahl, partner of the late Phantom Films.

The c The council met to decide whether the festival would feature a title badociated with Phantom.

"It was Padukone who took a stand, saying that people were not going to watch, the festival had to take off the movies badociated with Phantom or anyone who was shot during the #MeToo movement," said source. "His word had weight and that's what MAMI finally did."

MAMI was about to close dangerously in 2014, when almost all of its sponsors had withdrawn. 39, became a presence with which one must count after Rao, Chopra and Smriti Kiran took over – they revived the festival by seeking donations of Bollywood stars, friends from around the world.

All decisions were made to keep the festival afloat comfortably, "concluded the source.

HuffPost India sent a list of questions to the director of the MAMI festival, Chopra, who said that u she was "not at liberty to discuss festival board meetings".

We sent a questionnaire to Kiran Rao and Deepika Padukone, who have not yet responded.

However, Padukone recently tweeted, "What an absolute honor. Let's do it, "with a picture of the morning announcement.