Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood actor Ayushmaan Khurana have made it to the Time Magazine’s 100 most influential list of 2020.
Time 100 is an annual listicle of the 100 most influential people in the world, assembled by the American news magazine Time.
Talking about Ayushmaan, Deepika Padukone wrote for Time Magazine, “I remember Ayushmann Khurrana vividly from his debut film, Vicky Donor. He had, of course, been a part of the entertainment industry in various other ways for several years before that, but the reason you and I talk about him today is because of the impact he has been able to create through memorable films and iconic characters. Where male protagonist roles often fall into the trap of stereotypical masculinity, Ayushmann has successfully and convincingly transformed into characters who challenge those very stereotypes.”
Ayushmann is known for his fearless choice of roles which majorly revolve around social topics and taboos in India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also part of this year’s 100 most influential people’s list. Karl Vick, TIME editor-at-large wrote, “The key to democracy is not, in fact, free elections. Those only tell who got the most votes. More important are the rights of those who did not vote for the winner. India has been the world’s largest democracy for more than seven decades. Its population of 1.3 billion includes Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and other religious sects. All have abided in India, which the Dalai Lama (who has spent most of his life in refuge there) has lauded as an example of harmony and stability.”
“Narendra Modi has brought all that into doubt. Though almost all of India’s Prime Ministers have come from the nearly 80% of the population that is Hindu, only Modi has governed as if no one else matters. First elected on a populist promise of empowerment, his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party rejected not only elitism but also pluralism, specifically targeting India’s Muslims. The crucible of the pandemic became a pretense for stifling dissent. And the world’s most vibrant democracy fell deeper into shadow.”
The list features other big influential names like US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Xinping, American Singer Selena Gomez etc.
