DIFF, Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF) commenced yesterday. The fest will continue till Saturday and comprises 174 films, 200 artworks and participation from over 54 countries across the globe. Amidst this flurry of activity, news of Shashi Kapoor's demise reached the festival. The actors paid homage to the evergreen cinema icon and observed silence before the fest.
Ramkishore Parcha, founder-president said, "I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this festival to its sixth edition. Before we inaugurate this festival, we just got the news from (director) Tigmanshu Dhulia that... with immense remorse I have to announce to the audience sitting here that veteran actress Shashi Kapoor has passed away and his contribution will never be forgotten and will always be remembered by the film Industry in India, world over,"
Parcha then went onto pay tribute to the other actors the Indian entertainment industry lost this year including Om Puri, Achala Sachdev, Vinod Khanna, Reema Lagoo, Tom Alter, Lekh Tandon, Inder Kumar, Sita Ram Panchal and Girija Devi. "While opening the festival with immense pleasure, we also feel sorry that the country lost such and so many big artistes so soon in a short span of time. I would like each of us to maintain silence for a minute for them while standing and pay our respects and pray for their souls to rest in peace."