Marrakech film festival pays tribute to Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Marrakech: Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been honoured by the Marrakech International Film Festival for her contribution to cinema in a two-decade-long career spanning two continents.

Priyanka was bestowed the festival's top honour in a rare tribute ceremony held last night at the historic Jamaa El Fna square in the central Moroccan city lying in the foothills of the majestic Atlas mountains. The Marrakech festival's tribute to the actor, who has achieved remarkable success in both Bollywood and Hollywood, is one of the highlights of the festival, which began on November 29. 

It was the first time ever that an actor has been paid tributes by the Marrakech festival at the iconic Jamaa El Fna square, declared an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2001. The Marrakech festival is also paying tributes to celebrated American actor-director Robert Redford, veteran French director Bertrand Tavernier and acclaimed Moroccan actor Mouna Fettou this year. 

"Salamu alaikum (Peace be upon you)," Priyanka greeted a sea of people gathered at the famous square, a cultural symbol of Marrakech. "Everytime I have come here, there has been so much love and affection," she said before entertaining the crowd with a few Bollywood dance moves.

The tribute to Priyanka began with a giant screen at the Jam?a El Fna square showing clips from the actor's Bollywood and Hollywood films drawing huge cheers from the audience. (UNI)