Sherry Rehman, SRK, Bella Hadid among TIME100 most influential people of 2023

“I’ll never forget the first time I met Shah Rukh Khan,” writes Deepika Padukone. “I had just arrived in Mumbai from Bangalore with one suitcase and a dream. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in his house! I was being considered for a role in a film opposite him. It’s been 16 years since. What makes our relationship special is the love, trust, and respect we have for one another. Shah Rukh Khan will forever be known as one of the greatest actors of all time. But what truly sets him apart is his mind, his chivalry, his generosity. The list goes on. For someone who has known him intimately and cares for him deeply, 150 words will never do justice to the phenomenon that is Shah Rukh Khan.”

Alia Bhatt has written a detailed dedication for the Baahubali director. “The first time I met SS Rajamouli was at the preview of Baahubali 2,” recalls Bhatt. “We were all extremely starstruck. And even while I was watching the movie, I was like. Oh, my God, what a dream it would be to work with this director. Lo and behold, the dream came true.”

“Being directed by him in RRR was like going to school all over again,” she continues. “He knows the audience he’s serving. He knows what beats to hit, what turns to take. I call him the master storyteller, because he genuinely loves the flair and abandon of stories. And he brings us together. India is a massive country with diverse demographics, tastes, and culture. But he gets that—and he unites us through his movies. I once asked him for advice on acting. He said, “Whatever choice you make, just do it with love. Because even if the film doesn’t work, the audience will see love in your eyes for what you’re doing.”

Germany’s state secretary and special envoy for international climate action, Jennifer Morgan, has written a note for Sherry Rehman. “Pakistan is responsible for only a fraction of global emissions, but the climate crisis led to more than a third of the country being flooded last year,” Morgan details. “The water had not yet fully receded when Sherry Rehman arrived in Egypt for COP27, the U.N. climate summit, in November. There, as Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change, she gave a voice to those who had lost everything to the floods.”

Model and humanitarian Christy Turlington Burns, has written a note for Bella Hadid, in which she states that the model is “as good as she is beautiful.” Comedian Ali Wong has penned a dedication for Padma Laksmi, in which she notes, “Padma is an incredible writer, and that really shines through when she speaks. She’s articulate and has a strong point of view.”

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