Actor Deepika Padukone has been announced as one of the presenters at the upcoming BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards, adding to the star-studded lineup of global celebrities gracing the prestigious event.
Joining her as presenters are footballer David Beckham, actor Cate Blanchett, and singer Dua Lipa.
The trio will each present one award during the ceremony, although the specific categories have yet to be disclosed, according to reports from Variety.
The announcement of Padukone's participation adds to the excitement surrounding the BAFTAs, scheduled for February 19. Other confirmed presenters include Hugh Grant, Lily Collins, Adjoa Andoh, Emma Corrin, Gillian Anderson, Himesh Patel, and Idris Elba.
The evening promises a blend of glamour and entertainment with special performances lined up, including a cover song by Hannah Waddingham and a rendition of Sophie Bexter's classic "Murder on The Dancefloor."
The Rising Star Award will be presented by former winners Emma Mackey and Jack O’Connell.
Padukone's global presence has been steadily growing, marked by her previous appearance as a presenter at the 2023 Oscars.
Her inclusion in the BAFTA lineup highlights the increasing recognition of Indian film stars on the international stage, particularly by SS Rajamouli’s film "RRR," which clinched an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2023 with the track "Naatu Naatu."
Leading the nominations at this year's BAFTA Film Awards is the historical drama "Oppenheimer" with 13 nominations, followed by the gothic comedy "Poor Things" and Martin Scorsese’s "Killers of the Flower Moon," each receiving nine nominations.
Taking to her Instagram stories, Deepika Padukone shared the list of presenters for BAFTA, generating a wave of excitement among her fans. Messages of support flooded social media platforms, with users expressing pride in her representation of India on the global stage.
Responding to the news, one fan expressed, "I'm soo freaking proud that I'm your fan, the news that you are going to represent India on global map it's huge. All the best love, my best wished always with you, and I know you are going to rule there cause queens always rules." Another remarked, "We are living in the Queen era of Deepika Padukone."
This isn't the first time Padukone has graced a prestigious award show as a presenter, having made her debut at the 95th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, on the professional front, Deepika Padukone is set to star in "Fighter" alongside Hrithik Roshan. Directed by Sidharth Anand, the film, although not a box office success, featured an ensemble cast including Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, Akshay Oberoi, and Sanjeeda Shaikh.
Padukone also has two highly anticipated projects in the pipeline: "Kalki 2898 AD," featuring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Disha Patani, and Kamal Haasan, and Rohit Shetty's "Singham Again," where she will portray the character of Shakti Shetty. Recently, the first look of Padukone from "Kalki 2898 AD" was released, heightening anticipation among fans.
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