Yash Chopra gets the Swiss Ambassador’s Award 2010
News
oi-Kalyani Prasad Keshri
By Kalyani Prasad Keshri
The
Embassy
of
Switzerland
felicitated
Bollywood
dream
merchant,
Yash
Chopra
with
the
“Swiss
Ambassador"s
Award
2010" for
his
contribution
in
promoting
'Brand
Switzerland"
through
his
movies.
The
award
was
presented
at
a
scintillating
evening
hosted
at
the
lawns
of
the
Swiss
Ambassador"s
residence
on
Monday,
October
25,
2010.
Popular
actor
Deepika
Padukone
was
present
on
the
occasion
and
congratulated
Yashji
on
being
presented
this
prestigious
award.
The
highlight
of
the
evening"s
cultural
performances
was
the
Swiss
Ambassador"s
opening
of
the
ceremony
with
music
from
Waqt
(1965)
that
he
brilliantly
played
on
a
FlÜgelhorn.
This
was
followed
by
colourful
dance
performances
by
troupes
to
songs
from
Yash
Chopra"s
films.
While
presenting
the
award
to
Mr.
Chopra,
the
Swiss
Ambassador
H.E
Mr.
Philippe
Welti
said
“We
are
pleased
to
honour
Mr.
Yash
Chopra
with
the
first
of
its
kind
award.
Mr.
Chopra"s
association
with
Switzerland
dates
back
to
1965
when
he
was
present
at
the
very
same
lawns
while
shooting
for
his
golden
jubilee
hit,
Waqt.
Our
association
has
come
a
long
way
since
then
with
numerous
of
his
movies
showing
the
splendid
serenity
of
Switzerland.
To
many
Indians,
a
Yash
Chopra
movie
has
been
their
window
to
a
scenic
dreamland…
a
window
to
Switzerland."
“I
am
honoured
by
the
gesture
shown
by
the
Swiss
Ambassador
H.E
Philippe
Welti
by
giving
me
this
award.
Switzerland
has
always
been
my
first
choice
of
destination
for
shooting
outside
India.
Be
it
for
its
picture
perfect
snow
capped
mountains
or
lush
green
fields,
it
is
truly
a
heaven
on
earth
that
has
made
every
angle,
every
shot
and
every
frame
of
my
movies
breathtaking
with
the
scenes
vividly
etched
in
peoples" minds"
said
Yash
Chopra
on
receiving
the
Swiss
Ambassador"s
Award.
Mr.
Chopra"s
romance
with
Switzerland
began
during
his
honeymoon
and
has
continued
ever
since.
On
many
instances
in
the
past,
the
Swiss
Government
has
honored
Yash
Chopra
for
helping
rediscover
Switzerland-
he
was
presented
a
special
Award
by
screen
goddess
Ursula
Andress,
on
behalf
of
the
Swiss
Government.
The
entire
unit
of
Dilwale
Dulhania
Le
Jayenge,
the
1995
Bollywood
blockbuster
shot
extensively
in
Switzerland,
was
given
a
rare
Swiss
recognition
in
Mumbai
for
its
successful
running
for
over
500
weeks.
In
fact,
a
lake
in
Switzerland
has
been
unofficially
named
'The
Chopra
Lake'
because
of
the
way
Mr.
Chopra
has
used
it
in
films.
Hence
it
was
only
apt
when
Mr.
Chopra,
who
has
shot
a
portion
of
all
his
films
in
Switzerland,
felt
the
need
to
share
his
romance
with
the
country
with
his
fans
and
decided
to
partner
with
the
reputed
Brandinvest
AG,
in
bringing
the
“YRF
Enchanted
Journey" to
life
-
a
tour
which
gives
consumers
a
firsthand
opportunity
to
live
the
authentic
YRF
experience
by
visiting
original
sites
and
locations
in
Switzerland
used
by
Yash
Raj
Films.
Swiss
Ambassador"s
Award
is
presented
to
personalities,
who
have
played
an
outstanding
role
in
promoting
relations
between
India
and
Switzerland.
This
award
is
being
presented
for
the
first
time
in
2010.
Some
of
the
Yash
Raj
Films
that
have
been
shot
in
Switzerland
are: