Davos: Actor, fashion icon and mental health ambassador Deepika Padukone will be honoured with three others by the World Economic Forum at its 50th Annual Meeting on January 20.
WEF is marking its annual meeting next month with giving away four exceptional artists -- artist Theaster Gates (US), choreographer Jin Xing (China), actor Deepika Padukone (India) and artist Lynette Wallworth (Ausralia) -- the annual Crystal Award, recognising their enduring contributions to society.
Padukone has been awarded for her leadership in raising mental health awareness.
According to the WEF, the cultural leaders receiving the 2020 Crystal Award are "bridge-builders." They connect us to each other, they help us reflect on the human condition, and they provide visions of the world that can cut through the limitations of short-term or linear thinking.
Padukone was diagnosed with clinical depression in 2014 and sought professional help to aid her recovery. In June 2015, she founded The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF) to give hope to every person experiencing stress, anxiety and depression (SAD).
The foundation's programmes and initiatives include nationwide public awareness and destigmatization campaigns, adolescent mental health programmes, funding support for reatment in rural communities, training general physicians in common mental health disorders, research and an annual lecture series featuring the world's foremost thinkers and achievers.
"I am humbled and deeply honoured to be chosed for this year's Crystal award and dedicate the award to the millions around the world who experience stress, anxiety and depression, and other forms of mental illness," said Padukone.
Padukone has acted in close to 30 feature films across genres and won several awards for her performances. Many of her films also rank among the highest grossing films of all time.(UNI)