‘Golden Soirée’ again wins hearts at Cannes Film Fest; earns Rs 4.54-crore charity for philanthropic outfits

Leading Indian businessman and philanthropist Rishabh Tongya, alongside Rajkumar Tongya, recently returned to the Cannes Film Festival for the second consecutive year with the ‘Golden Soirée’, now regarded as one of India’s most influential luxury and cultural showcases on the global stage.

Rishabh Tongya and Rajkumar Tongya hail from Jaipur.

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A major highlight of the evening was the charity auction, which raised over €410,000 (Euro) Rs 4.54 crore). This is to support of philanthropic organisations including Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) Jaipur Foot, All Hands and Hearts, The OpenAg Foundation, The Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Of this, approximately €55,000 (Euro) almost Rs 61 lakh was directed towards Jaipur Foot initiatives, reinforcing the global recognition and humanitarian impact of the Jaipur-based organisation.

Held at the prestigious Hôtel Martinez rooftop in Cannes alongside Chopard Co-President Caroline Scheufele, the evening brought together internationally recognised names from cinema, luxury, fashion, business and philanthropy for a celebration inspired by the global influence of Indian cinema and culture.

It is to be noted that this association with Jaipur Foot traces back to October 2025, when Chopard Co-President Caroline Scheufele visited Jaipur and met Ambassador Satish Mehta, Executive President and Director of International Operations for Jaipur Foot, alongside Rishabh Tongya.

The meeting marked the beginning of a shared dialogue around philanthropy, humanitarian impact and India’s growing representation on international luxury and cultural platforms. The collaboration eventually evolved into Jaipur Foot becoming one of the supported foundations at the Golden Soirée during Cannes 2026.

Positioning India at the centre of Cannes’ luxury and entertainment landscape, the Golden Soirée reflected the glamour, ambition and cultural influence of modern India. Over the past two years, Rishabh Tongya has emerged as a prominent Indian presence at Cannes, building a platform that celebrates Indian excellence through philanthropy, luxury and global cultural dialogue.

Executive President and Director of International Operations for Jaipur Foot, Ambassador Satish Mehta acknowledged the impact of the initiative and shared, “It is deeply encouraging to see Indian philanthropy and humanitarian initiatives being recognised and supported on a prestigious global platform like Cannes. Such initiatives help bring meaningful international attention to organisations working towards restoring dignity and mobility to millions of lives.”

Featuring celebrated guests from the worlds of cinema, fashion, business and entertainment, the soirée also included a special performance by Indian music icon Badshah, alongside immersive artistic showcases and a specially curated Indian culinary experience at the iconic Chopard Rooftop, Hôtel Martinez.

Speaking about the evening, Rishabh Tongya shared,“The Golden Soirée is a celebration of India’s creativity, warmth and cultural influence on the world stage. To see India represented so strongly at Cannes while also contributing towards meaningful philanthropic causes makes the evening deeply special.”

With the Golden Soirée continuing to gain international attention, the event has rapidly emerged as India’s defining presence on the Riviera, celebrating Indian culture, luxury, philanthropy and global influence at one of the world’s most prestigious cultural gatherings.