Yash Chopra receives Swiss Ambassador’s Award

Yash Chopra,known as the king of romance,was honoured for promoting Switzerland through his cinema.

Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra has been felicitated with ‘Swiss Ambassador’s Award 2010’ for his contribution in promoting Switzerland through his cinema.

Chopra,known as the ‘king of romance’ in Bollywood,has shot many of his movies in Switzerland,a country he fell in love while on his honeymoon. “Switzerland has always been my first choice of destination for shooting outside India. Be it for its picture perfect snow capped mountains or lush green fields,it is truly a heaven on earth that has made every angle,every shot and every frame of my movies breathtaking with the scenes vividly etched in people’s mind,” said the 78-year-old director last evening.

Swiss Ambassador H E Philipe Welti opened the event with the song ‘Aage bhi Jaane naa tu’ from Chopra’s 1965 film ‘Waqt’. “His association with Switzerland dates back to 1965 when he was present at the very same lawns while shooting for his golden jubilee hit ‘Waqt’. For many Indians,a Yash Chopra movie has been their window to a scenic dreamland… a window to Switzerland,” Welti said.

Bollywood actor and Tissot watches brand Ambassador Deepika Padukone was also present on the occasion and congratulated Chopra.

Padukone said that she has grown up watching Chopra’s films and is a huge admirer of his work. “It is pleasure to honour you. Thanks for giving me this opportunity,” the actress said.

The award is presented to personalities,who have played outstanding role in promoting relations between India and Switzerland. Chopra was first to be honoured with the award.

The director is planning to wield the megaphone again in 2011,after a gap of six years. His last directorial venture was Indo-Pak love story ‘Veer-Zaara’ in 2004,starring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta.

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The 78-year-old director is synonymous with romance in the Indian film industry with his films like ‘Waqt’,’Kabhi Kabhie’,’Silsila’,’Chandni’,’Lamhe’ and ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’.

“I will be directing a film next year and like my other films,it will be shot in Switzerland,” Chopra said without divulging details.

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