Oscar pales in comparison: Gary Oldman reacts to his Knighthood
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Los Angeles: Gary Oldman, a veteran actor who was recently knighted, said he was "very moved" when Prince William presented him with the honour.
The 67-year-old actor was knighted, and he described it as a highly emotional experience, according to 'Female First UK'.
In a video posted Instagram page, the Oscar-winning star said, "When it was time to approach, it was hard to find my voice, really. I was very moved by it, yeah. I was saying earlier, you know, you think the Oscar is a big deal and then you come here”.
As per ‘Female First UK’, the actor also claimed that good fortune has played a huge role in his career success, IANS reported.
The actor explained, "I'm fortunate to do what I do. I personally think it's the greatest job in the world. I've had diabolical good luck. I did about ten years of theatre and then I did a few TV films and then eventually I got kidnapped by the movies. I mean, it was all an accident. None of it was engineered or planned. Acknowledgement of the work is a bonus and it's the very last thing you're thinking about”.
Prince William actually confessed to being a fan of Gary's work during their conversation. The latter actor told ITV, "He mentioned The Fifth Element and Churchill of Darkest Hour. He said he was very happy that I was here today and that it was him that had the opportunity to present me with (the honour). He’s a fan, yeah”.
The London-born star also admitted to feeling "very humbled and flattered" by the accolade. Gary, who won an Academy Award for his role as Sir Winston Churchill in the 2017 movie ‘Darkest Hour’, said, "I think I feel very honoured, very humbled and flattered, I think in equal measure”.
“It compares to nothing else. I thought the Oscar was a big deal. No disrespect to the academy, but it sort of pales in comparison to this. It’s just been wonderful”, he added.
Shashi Tharoor reappointed as chairperson of External Affairs panel
New Delhi: Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress leader, will remain the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs has been reformed with effect from September 26.
A senior Congress MP and former Minister of State for External Affairs, Tharoor, has wide experience in diplomacy, including his time at the United Nations. His leadership is expected to guide the committee as India deals with a changing global environment, say officials.
Tasked with examining matters related to India's foreign policy, diplomacy, and external engagements, the panel consists of 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. One Lok Sabha seat is currently vacant.
From the Lok Sabha, the members include prominent leaders such as D. K. Aruna, Abhishek Banerjee, Vijay Baghel, Arun Govil, Deepender Singh Hooda, Naveen Jindal, Asaduddin Owaisi, Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Aparajita Sarangi, Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Bansuri Swaraj, and Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde, among others. The representation spans across parties and states. This indicates a balanced and inclusive approach to external affairs oversight.
From the Rajya Sabha, the committee includes John Brittas, Raghav Chadha, Sagarika Ghose, K. Laxman, Rajeev Shukla, Sudhanshu Trivedi, and others. The committee plays a crucial advisory role in India's foreign relations, examining the policies and functioning of the Ministry of External Affairs and related bodies. It reviews bilateral and multilateral ties, international treaties, and issues concerning the Indian diaspora.
Tharoor’s reappointment has drawn attention from diplomatic and political circles alike, with many expecting the committee to adopt a proactive stance on issues ranging from regional security and border diplomacy to India's role in global climate negotiations and multilateral forums like the UN, G20, and BRICS.
The new committee formation comes at a time when India’s global presence is expanding, and Parliament’s role in guiding foreign policy is gaining more importance than ever.
