Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, Indian-origin actor Dev Patel, actor Alia Bhatt, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and World Bank President Ajay Banga were among the notable Indians included in TIME magazine’s esteemed list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The list, unveiled on Wednesday, recognizes individuals from various fields who have made significant impacts globally.
TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024’ featured notable figures such as Jigar Shah, Director of the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, Priyamvada Natarajan, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Yale University, and Asma Khan, an Indian-origin restaurateur.
Calling Alia Bhatt a ‘formidable talent’, director, producer and writer Tom Harper wrote, “Not only one of the world’s leading actors, admired for her work in the Indian film industry for over a decade — she is also a businesswoman and a philanthropist who leads with integrity.”
“I met Alia on Heart of Stone, her English-language film debut. Despite her fame, on set she is self-effacing and funny. There is a grace to the way she goes about her work: focused, open to ideas, and willing to take creative risks,” he further added.
Alia’s superpower is her ability to mix movie-star magnetism with authenticity and sensitivity, Harper said.
Speaking of Dev Patel, Kaluuya an Oscar-winning actor, wrote, “Dev radiates goodness. His humanity shines through every time he graces the screen, leaving you no choice but to root for him even when his character is doing something foul; his presence makes you understand where he’s coming from.”
Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja wrote about Sakshi Malik reflecting on the wrestlers’ protest. Sakshi Malik featured in the list of ‘icons’.
“In early 2023, a handful of India’s most celebrated wrestlers gathered at Jantar Mantar—a popular protest site in Delhi. Notable among them was 31-year-old Sakshi Malik, India’s first and only female wrestler to win an Olympic medal. The group gathered to demand the immediate arrest and resignation of Brij Bhushan Singh, a powerful ruling party Member of Parliament and chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, accused of sexually harassing female athletes,” Pahuja writes.
“What began as a small, targeted protest to demand decisive government action in favor of the wrestlers ballooned instead into a yearlong battle unprecedented in Indian sport, drawing support from across the country and attention from across the world,” she added.
The list of ‘icons’ include: 25-year-old Palestinian photographer Motaz Azaiza, actor Sofia Coppola, animation film director Hayao Miyazaki, and others. Motaz is the youngest person on this year’s TIME’s list. The oldest person on the list is Joel Habener, who is 86 years old.
Talking about Microsft’s CEO Nadella, TIME said he was “profoundly influential in shaping our future.”
“Microsoft’s significant investment in OpenAI and partnership with Mistral AI puts him at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution. A technologist with heart, Satya sees AI as a tool that will empower humans. Still, there’s rightful concern about unintended consequences and misuse. That’s why it’s so reassuring that Satya is one of AI’s stewards. His thoughtfulness and humility should make us safer,” the magazine said in a section on Nadella’s profile.
Terming Asma Khan as “Top Chef”, Indian-American writer and model Padma Lakshmi said, “Asma is not only interested in doing the right thing, she’s a shrewd businesswoman too. South Asian aunties know the cuisine best.”
This year’s TIME’s list features the inclusion of 51 women, showcasing the diverse achievements and contributions of female leaders across various domains. Notable figures such as Sofia Coppola, Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Yulia Navalnaya, Jenny Holzer, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Norah Weinstein, Joanne Crevoiserat, Lauren Groff, Kelly Ripa, and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, among others, are recognized for their profound impact and influence in their respective fields.