On May 19, the distinct worlds of high cinema, fine art, luxury, and global music converged at the Cannes film festival this year. Perched atop the iconic Chopard rooftop at the Hôtel Martinez, Chopard Co-President Caroline Scheufele and entrepreneur Rishabh Tongya combined their creative forces to jointly host the Golden Soirée —an exclusive, philanthropic gala dedicated to celebrating the profound emotive power and expanding global influence of Indian cinema.
Generosity, international solidarity, and sustainable creative impact served as the definitive anchors for the evening, using the rich cultural tapestry, language, and emotion of Indian cinema as its blueprint.
The evening — imagined as a true “party with a purpose" — was inspired by Scheufele and Tongya’s common belief that both cinema and philanthropy can be combined to create and highlight human connection across generations, cultures, and borders.
The high-profile soirée was hosted by Indian TV show host Archana Vijaya Puri, welcoming an elite, star-studded guest list of international VIPs, including business leaders, renowned artists, philanthropists, and media personalities from India, Europe, and the Gulf region.
The evening was guided by immersive artistic performances, curated films, and a charity auction to facilitate conversation between glamour and philanthropy, and celebration and purpose. Guests also found themselves immersed in a series of live musical and artistic performances, as well as a special appearance by Indian rapper and singer-songwriter, Badshah.
The centerpiece of the evening was a high-stakes charity auction, featuring an extraordinary collection of ultra-exclusive creations and bespoke experiences jointly curated by Tongya and Scheufele. It featured Caroline Couture’s world-premiere Chopard Happy Diamonds and Happy Sports India Edition pieces, a Chopard High Jewellery diamond parure, and a private 1, Place Vendôme hotel experience.
The soirée also supported multiple foundations who received a 100% of the proceeds from the auction.
The foundations include All Hands and Hearts (a global non-profit organisation that helps communities facing the brunt of natural disasters and climate-related crises), BMVSS Jaipur Foot (one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations committed to restoring independence and dignity to people with disabilities), The OpenAg Foundation (a global non-profit organization working toward supporting smallholder farmers, and facilitating more sustainable and resilient food systems), The Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation (devoted to improving livelihoods through education, youth empowerment, community development, and humanitarian aid), and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (dedicated to promoting a more sustainable future and protecting the planet).
The guests in attendance also heard from Petra Nemcova (Czech mode, television host, and philanthropist), Natalia Kapchuk (Russian-born, London-based artist), Abbas Sajwani (Founder and CEO of AHS Group), and Prince Charles Henri de Lobkowicz (French nobleman and member of the historic House of Lobkowicz), as each spoke about the initiatives and communities supported by the event.
Several international bidders, including entrepreneur Sajwani, businessman and investor Vikram Shroff, entrepreneur Sajal Garg, media personality and philanthropist Loujain Adada Juffali, and entrepreneur Samay Manyal, participated in the evening’s auction, raising a total of 410,000 Euros. Their winning bids contributing directly to the evening’s success and to the five foundations supported by it.