Mumbai, September 7, 2026: The first day of the Global Impact Forum Edition II: Civilisational Legacy concluded with an evening celebrating the power of culture to connect people, nations and generations, as actor Suniel Shetty was honoured with the Cultural Icon of the Year Award at the forum’s Gala Night.
The award was presented by Jahnavi Pawar, Director, AP Globale. Sharing his excitement, Suniel Shetty, actor and Cultural Icon of the Year Award recipient, said, “It is a great pleasure to receive the accolade. This boosts the love and adoration that my beloved audience has had for me for such a long time. I thank AP Globale for making me a part of this insightful forum.”
Sharing his appreciation for the forum, Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, said, “As the State Minister of Culture, my presence here centers on the vital intersection of culture and global connectivity. Maharashtra’s rich, multidimensional heritage must be shared with the world. To me, culture is more than tradition. It is artistic performance, creative expression, a powerful statement, and a dynamic vehicle for dialogue. While policy, investment, and entrepreneurship drive formal growth, culture creates the immediate, human connection that brings people together. The Global Impact Forum (GIF) has rightfully harnessed this power to bridge international divides, offering an ideal platform for youth, innovators, and leaders to collaborate.”
Followed by the presentation of the Cultural Icon of the Year Award, the Gala Night was hosted by RJ Tarun, who translated the central theme of the forum into a celebration of performance, artistic expression and cultural exchange. The programme moved across cultural traditions and geographies, featuring a Capoeira performance, followed by Zulu and Samba performances, a live performance by Shikhar Naad Qureshi, and presentations by international cultural delegations.
The choice of performances reflected one of GIF II’s defining ideas: cultural exchange is most powerful when it moves beyond formal dialogue and becomes a shared experience.
Underlining the significance of the forum, Pawar said, “True global unity requires looking beyond economics and politics alone. By celebrating our shared civilisational legacies from culture and arts to sports and traditional wisdom, platforms like GIF build trust, cross-border understanding, and enduring connections that transform our world.”
From the India-Brazil conversations around rhythm, dance and sport to the India-China exploration of martial arts, calligraphy and healing traditions, the first day of the forum demonstrated that cultural identity can become a point of connection rather than division. The Gala Night therefore served as a cultural expression of the forum’s larger philosophy: that the legacy of civilisations gains contemporary meaning when it is shared, interpreted and carried forward by new generations.
