‘Not used to wearing such fancy clothes...’: Basil wins audience with grounded and hilarious speech
Actor and filmmaker Basil Joseph once again proved why he is one of the most loved figures in modern cinema. Attending the Hollywood Reporter India Awards, Basil picked up the ‘Spotlight’ award for his role in the film Ponman, delivering a speech that left the star-studded audience filled with admiration and laughter.
A fanboy moment
Presented by Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the award left Basil visibly starstruck. Even as the director behind the astounding Minnal Murali, he couldn't hide his fanboy excitement while receiving the trophy from the veteran duo.
"I came prepared with a speech, but standing here on this stage, it feels surreal," he said, reflecting on the turn his life has taken. He expressed deep gratitude to Ponman director Jotish Shankar, his co-stars, and the technical crew, later light-heartedly insisting on a selfie with Hirani and Chopra before exiting the stage.
Fashion faux pas and celebrity encounters
In a segment that resonated with many, Basil joked about his discomfort with high-fashion events. “To be honest, I’m not used to wearing such fancy clothes or attending these types of parties. I was incredibly tense when I arrived,” he confessed.
He recounted a humorous exchange with a fellow guest: "Everyone kept telling me I looked handsome, but I was so nervous I forgot to tell them they looked good too! Then, an actress came up to me and said, 'Basil, I love you.' I immediately blurted out, 'I love ou too!”
The "LCD"philosophy
The highlight of the evening came when Basil addressed Rajkumar Hirani directly regarding his filmmaking process.
"Sir, as a filmmaker, I also focus on humour. I once saw an interview where you showed the mantras framed on your office wall—the elements every scene must have. You called it LSD, didn't you?" Basil paused, corrected himself with a grin—"Sorry, not LSD, I mean LCD! I know the 'L' stands for Laugh and the 'D' for Drama, but I’ve completely forgotten what the 'C' stands for. Sir, I promise to go back and check!"
Basil’s genuine speech definitely won over the room, filled with several bigwigs of Indian cinema. His sincerity and raw passion for the craft to which he is so deeply attached added a much-needed human touch to the glitzy evening.