Think we can call her The PRIDE of India!

So there’s a good new and there’s a bad news involving two big Bollywood damsels and also one of the most anticipated verdict. Which one would the fans like to hear first? Let’s get over with the bad one so that we can enjoy the good one later and finish the article with satisfaction and pride on our face.

But first the most anticipated verdict: For the PRIDE (of India), the most awaited verdict on section #377 is still stagnant and though there may be some ray of hope for the LGBT #377 community in India, neither our Government nor our judiciary has any final view on legalizing homosexuality as yet. Hope floats, doesn’t it?

We do hope and wish that the neglected community of our society, at last, gets a verdict in their favor. It is strange though, as it were the British who had introduced the Section #377 of the Indian Penal Code dating back to 1860 during the British rule of India. While in UK homosexuality is legal since 1967, India still seems to follow the archaic rule book, which even the ones who had introduced it had abolished long back. Hopefully 2016 will finally make us break from the shackles of #377.

Now back to our good and bad news. The bad news is for the DeePee (DP) fans who won’t be seeing much of the actress in the first half of the year (in Hindi movies), because she has committed her dates and herself completely to her Vin Diesel Hollywood project (and has already left for Canada for the shoot). I guess the fans can wait and miss but also support the dimpled DP in her Hollywood endeavor.

Now for the good news for the PeeCee fans who are still swooning over their favorite actress winning the Padma Shri Award (India’s fourth highest civilian honour). Think we can call her the PRIDE of India?

“From ‘Dil Dhadakane Do’ to ‘Bajirao Mastani’ to getting People’s Choice award for ‘Quantico’ and now Padma Shri…I can’t explain in words what emotions I am going through. I think I am living my dream,” Priyanka, who is currently in Montreal, told PTI over phone. “I think it’s all the benefit of working hard. I don’t take my job for granted,” she said.

The 33-year-old actress also said that she was elated to be among the illustrious personalities from films, arts and culture fields who have received the national honour. “I am excited and happy to be in the illustrious list of people and getting the award,” she said. “I am speechless, it feels like a dream. I think with the award comes encouragement to do better and good work. There is responsibility to perform better. I am happy (that) I am acknowledged for the work that I have done,” she said.

Not only this, very recently, it was announced that PeeCee is all set to present at the upcoming 88th Academy Awards (aka the Oscars). Her name comes in the second slate of presenters that includes Steve Carell, Quincy Jones, Byung-hun Lee, Jared Leto, Julianne Moore, Olivia Munn, Margot Robbie, Jason Segel, Andy Serkis, JK Simmons, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon.

On Twitter, the 33-year-old mega star wrote that she’s now hunting for the ‘perfect dress.’ She was replying to one of the many congratulatory tweets she’s been flooded with.
Wishes poured in from Prakash Jha and Kunal Kohli (her Jai Gangaajal and Teri Meri Kahaani directors respectively), actors Dia Mirza and Vir Das and photographer Atul Kasbekar.