Deepti Naval honoured with Excellence in Cinema Award at MAMI festival

Mumbai, Oct 17 (PTI) Veteran actor Deepti Naval was houred with Excellence in Cinema Award at opening ceremony of 21st Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star on Thursday night.

She was presented award by filmmaker Vishal Bharwaj and actor Deepika Pukone.

"I am quite nervous, I am overwhelmed with this award. I am grateful to Jio MAMI Mumbai festival for giving me this hour," Naval, who got a standing ovation from audience, said after receiving award.

Quoting from Naval's poetry, Bharwaj said, "When you feel like saying a lot of things that time too do t feel like saying anything."

Naval me her acting debut with "Juon" in 1978. In her career spanning over 40 years, she has acted in more than 60 films. Some of her iconic films include "Kamla", "Chashme Bdoor", "Mirch Masala", "Rang Birangi", "Firaaq", "Leela" and "Memories in March".

She was last seen in Zoya Akhtar's web-series "Me In Heaven".

20th Jio Mumbai Acemy of Moving Im (MAMI) Mumbai Film Festival began Thursday night and was attended by Bollywood celebrities like Deepika, Bhardwaj, Karan Johar, Taapsee Pannu, Kiran Rao, Nandita Das, Sudhir Mishra, Tannishtha Chatterjee and ors.

Isha Ambani said she was attending on behalf of her mor, Nita Ambani, who co-chairs Jio MAMI festival.

" partnership stems from our own belief that we should do whatever we can to preserve our rich culture and herit. This is more special as we see deepening our relationship by bringing in Reliance Foundation. I truly believe reach and power of our films and film actors for a strong voice in society," she said.

"I am proud to anunce that starting next year we will have Reliance Foundation Awards for best films on social issues. award will recognise cinema that explores social causes and delivers a strong societal mess. This will be a year-long engment for us and I am looking forward to seeing impact," Isha said.

eight-day festival boasts of over 190 films, including over 50 debuts, 13 world premieres, spanning 53 countries and 49 diverse langus.

Filmmaker Geetu Mohandas' much-awaited and acclaimed Malayalam drama "Moothon" ( Elder One) was opening film of festival and "Saand Ki Aankh" starring Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar will be last film to be screened.

festival will screen some of best international films like James Gray's drama " Astra", starring Br Pitt in a critically lauded performance, Alma Har'el's "Honey Boy", " Souvenir" by British filmmaker Joanna Hogg, British filmmaker Ken Loach's "Sorry We Missed You", " Irishman", "Marri Story", " Two Popes", "Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator" and ors.