Raj Kapoor Lifetime Achievement Award to Krishna Shah

Affair: US Asia Business Forum | Place: Los Angeles, USA | Date: Sept 09 to Sept 13, 2009

Krishna Shah awarded with The Raj Kapoor Lifetime Achievement Award in USA

In the second week of the September, the leaders of the Asian American communities under the umbrella of U.S. Asia Business Forum (USABF) gathered at the Convention Centre in Los Angeles. Hundreds of entrepreneurs and delegates from 45 countries attended the forum, which primarily focused on 20 high-growth categories including entertainment and media.

On the last day of the conference, Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor of Los Angeles, the chief guest along with several Indian cabinet ministers were present during an elegant award ceremony. The prestigious Raj Kapoor Lifetime Achievement Award was honoured to Krishna Shah for being the first Indian to have made his mark in Hollywood, and also his body of work as a writer & director on Broadway, Hollywood and Indian Film Industry. Plus his contribution in creating “the culture of storytelling”

On accepting the award Mr. Shah stated that “Raj Kapoor has been one of my mentors during my college days in the USA. He inspired me to come back to India to make movies. That became SHALIMAR.” Mr. Shah has been fascinated by the transformation of the Indian film industry, particularly the rise of young filmmakers with their innovative cinema, which would have made Raj Kapoor very proud from wherever he is.

“I accept this award in the name of “The New Indian Cinema”, a future that is already happening”, Mr. Shah ended with.

My personal note to add: Krishnaji has really been an inspiration to me, has always stood by me, supported me, encouraged me. Loved me like his own son. I have learned so much from him and yet there is more to learn from him in professional area as well as personal. A person of his caliber can never be produced and his contribution is really making a difference.

Ankur B. Saraiya