New Delhi: Versatile Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt and Olympic medal-winning wrestler Sakshi Malik have been named in the prestigious TIMES list of 100 most influential people in the world.
World Bank President Ajay Banga, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, actor-director Dev Patel have also made the TIMES’ ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024’ list.
Among others to be honoured are US Department of Energy’s Loan Programmes Office director Jigar Shah, Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics at Yale University Priyamvada Natarajan, Indian-origin restaurateur Asma Khan and Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya.
Alia a ‘formidable talent’
Alia was described as a “formidable talent” in the TIME profile by director, producer and writer Tom Harper.
“She is not only one of the world’s leading actors, admired for her work in the Indian film industry for over a decade — she is also a businesswoman and a philanthropist who leads with integrity. Alia’s superpower is her ability to mix movie-star magnetism with authenticity and sensitivity. As an actor she is luminous, and as a person she brings the grounded assurance and creativity that make a truly international star,” wrote Harper, who directed Alia in his movie ‘Heart of Stone’ which marked her Hollywood debut.
Sakshi fought ‘unprecedented battle in Indian sport’
Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja, who wrote Sakshi’s profile, said she was among India’s “most celebrated wrestlers” who had gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in early 2023 to demand the immediate arrest and resignation of chief of the Wrestling Federation of India Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexually harassing female athletes.
“What began as a small, targeted protest to demand decisive government action in favour of the wrestlers ballooned instead into a yearlong battle unprecedented in Indian sport, drawing support from across the country and attention from across the world. This fight is no longer only for India’s female wrestlers, it is for the daughters of India whose voices have been silenced time and again.”
“Shortly after Singh’s successor, a close ally and business partner, was elected to oversee the Wrestling Federation of India, Sakshi Malik — in an emotional, public, and very brave act of defiance — quit the sport. She did not, however, quit the battle. Her light, and the light of all those standing against harassment, continues to shine,” Pahuja wrote.
Banga took on ‘monumental task’
Former Mastercard CEO Banga’s profile, written by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, was lauded for being a leader taking on a monumental task.
“It’s not easy to find a leader with the skill and drive to take on the monumental task of transforming an essential institution, but since becoming World Bank president last June, Ajay Banga has done just that. His sharp wit consistently enables him to cut through the noise. With unprecedented challenges such as climate change threatening our collective future, I cannot imagine a better partner with whom to take decisive action on behalf of people around the world,” Yellen said.
