Deepti Naval pays tribute to late Farooq Sheikh at Ladakh International Film Festival

The third edition of the Ladakh International Film Festival kicked off in Leh, Ladakh, on Friday.

During the inauguration, veteran actress Deepti Naval paid tribute to her late co-actor and close friend Farooq Sheikh who died of a heart attack in Dubai on December 27, 2013.

Speaking at the event, the 'Chashme Badoor' actress said: "Farooq was such a wonderful artist, a wonderful actor. We never felt that he was acting, everything he did on screen was so natural to him."

Naval is also part of the jury at the festival.

The festival commenced with the screening of director Kamal Swaroop's National award-winning movie 'Rangbhoomi', which is based on Dadasaheb Phalke's eponymous semi-autobiographical play of the same name.

Earlier, the event was inaugurated by His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche in the presence of Bollywood filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, actress Deepti Naval, actor Rajit Kapur and director Amol Gupte, who was accompanied by his actor son Partho and wife.

"Films had a very important role in my life. I left Ladakh at the age of two... When I cam back I did not know the Ladakhi language and culture. It was films that helped me. Films are important and should be watched," Thuksey Rinpoche said.

Noted lyricist Gulzar, who is the patron of the film festival, has decided not to attend the event this year.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said he was glad he was attending the festival this year, a year after his popular film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was screened for the first time.

Mehra said that he would be foreever grateful for the opportunity granted to him last year.

Melwyn Williams Chirayath, the founder and festival director, said he was sad to see the poor turnout on the first day but hoped that the situation will improve as the event progresses.

The Ladakh International Film Festival will be on for three days and will end on June 29. (ANI)

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