India, April 29 -- On the evening of 13 December 2018, as the lights slowly dimmed and the music softly faded, the guests were requested to take their assigned seats in the large hall of a hotel in suburban Mumbai. The French Ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler, and many major stars and filmmakers were in the audience to witness a special ceremony. The stage was set for the exclusive event to commence. With the television cameras in position, it was time for action.

At the request of the presenter, a tall, athletically built, handsome man, immaculately attired in a dark Jodhpur jacket, elegantly stepped on the stage. He was introduced as the Hollywood producer and former tennis champion of India, Ashok Amritraj. That evening, he was b...