From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Vidya Balan, several Indian celebrities have done their jury duty at the Cannes Film Festival over the years.
Deepika Padukone has been named to the jury for the 75th Cannes Film Festival, joining a long list of Indian celebrities who have previously received the honour. Some of the year's top films will have their world premieres at Cannes, which is renowned around the world as one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals., ,The festival has long admired Indian films and talents, and even before Deepika, some of India's most important figures were invited to serve on the Cannes Jury. Take a look at some of the Indian artists that have served on the Cannes jury over the years.,
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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her Cannes debut in 2002 alongside Shekhar Kapur for a special screening of her film Devdas and was the first Indian woman to make it to the jury in 2003. She has remained a consistent presence on the Cannes Red Carpet over the years.
The God of Small Things writer was among the jury members in the year 2000. Before her visit to the Cannes Film Festival, the author and activist was arrested in January 2000, when thousands of people captured the Maheshwar dam site.
Deepika Padukone will be one of the eight members of the jury at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. The actor will analyse the worldwide competition, which will be presided over by French actor Vincent Lindon.
Mira Nair, a filmmaker and producer, sat on the Cannes Film Festival jury in 1990. Later, in 1988, her film Salaam Bombay won the audience award at the festival. Her films are typically based on Indian themes in order to appeal to an international audience.
Filmmaker Mrinal Sen was the first Indian to become a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982. The legendary director has helmed several important films, namely Khandar, Genesis, Kharij and Ekdin Pratidin. In 1983, Sen's film Kharij won the Jury Prize at the prestigious film festival.
Nandita Das has been on the Cannes Film Festival jury twice. In 2005, Javier Bardem, Salma Hayek, Benoît Jacquot, Emir Kusturica, Toni Morrison, Agnès Varda, and John Woo were on the main competition jury. In 2013, she served on the Cinéfondation and short film jury.
In 2009, Sharmila Tagore served on the international competition jury. Her film Devi directed by Satyajit Ray and starring one of India's most successful actors, was nominated for an Academy Award in the feature film category in 1962.
Shekhar Kapur, most known for directing the Elizabeth films in the West, was selected to serve on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010. His critically acclaimed film, Bandit Queen was screened at the same festival in 1994.