By Monique
I might as well start off this series with someone I’ve featured frequently on this site in recent days, especially since he’s just been honored by Chivas Regal and their Win The Right Way event for his Lionheart campaign, which supports nonprofits who help homeless children in India.
Patel, who started the campaign after being inspired by playing Sunny Parwar in the Oscar-nominated film Lion, said he wants to use his platform to give opportunities to others.
“I am grateful for my life and the success I have enjoyed. I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to sleep; when I’m going to eat or how I’m going to protect myself. I have the freedom to make my own choices and choose my path in life. Unfortunately, this is not the case for millions of children in India and around the world. For this reason, I want to help others by telling culturally diverse stories that educate and shed light on the human condition. True success means using your own to help others who don’t have a voice or the freedom we take for granted. This is what Win the Right Way means to me. It shows that success is better shared and is a force for good.”
In short, aside from being the possible leading man in a film starring either Imaan Hammam or Octavia Spencer, Patel is also a humanitarian, all at the age of 26. Love this guy.
Read the full press release about Chivas Regal below.
(Dubai, UAE) Actor Dev Patel, who catapulted to success in 2009 when he starred in the Academy Award winning film SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, will be the guest of honour at the Chivas Icons event on 2nd May 2017, at Play in the H Hotel.
The Chivas Icons was launched in October 2016 to recognise and celebrate individuals in The Gulf, who not only make a difference themselves but also inspire others to Win The Right Way. This event will recognise Dev for his work with the #LionHeart campaign, which helps vulnerable children in India.
The #Lionheart campaign was inspired, in part, by the 2016 movie Lion which starred Dev opposite Nicole Kidman and Sunny Parwar. It tells the true story of Saroo Brierley, an Indian child lost many miles from his home and his decade long struggle to return to his family. Each year 80,000 children go missing in India, with a further 11 million living on the streets. The #Lionheart campaign supports three India base charities – Magic Bus; Childline India and Railway Children India – all of which do extraordinary work on the ground to protect children in India and around the world.
Dev Patel, commented:
“The ideal of sharing success resonates strongly with me. Success is not something that’s handed to you on a plate. It takes hard work, many sacrifices and years to achieve and, in my own experience, it wouldn’t be possible without the support of family, friends and collaborators along the way.
“I am grateful for my life and the success I have enjoyed. I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to sleep; when I’m going to eat or how I’m going to protect myself. I have the freedom to make my own choices and choose my path in life. Unfortunately, this is not the case for millions of children in India and around the world. For this reason, I want to help others by telling culturally diverse stories that educate and shed light on the human condition. True success means using your own to help others who don’t have a voice or the freedom we take for granted. This is what Win the Right Way means to me. It shows that success is better shared and is a force for good.”
Antoin Breen, Marketing Manager Chivas at Pernod Ricard Gulf, said:
“We, at Chivas, believe real success is not measured by wealth alone but by how many lives a person has enriched. Chivas Icons is based on the ideal of encouraging individuals to not only strive for professional success, but to do so in a way that improves the lives of those around them. We are committed to championing this message and endeavour to inspire others to Win The Right Way. We are delighted to recognise Dev for his inspiring contribution.”
The inaugural Chivas Icons event in October 2016 recognised several leading local Icons including Dubai restaurateur Silvena Rowe, Dubai based industrialist and founder of Petrochem Yogesh Mehta and Charles Blaschke of Taka Solutions – winner of The Gulf Chivas Venture 2016.
Win The Right Way is a global campaign encouraging individuals to not only strive for professional success but to do so in a way that improves the lives of those around them. It has been supported by Javier Bardem, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Evans, Don Cheadle and Oscar Isaac, amongst others.
ABOUT CHIVAS REGAL
Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is considered a timeless classic, renowned for its benchmark quality and taste, style, substance and exclusivity. A truly global brand, Chivas Regal has been integral to the growth of the Scotch category worldwide and today sells 4.5 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. With generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity at the heart of Chivas Regal, the brand launched its successful Win the Right Way campaign in 2014, which aims to inspire a new generation whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. The Chivas Regal range includes: Chivas 12, Chivas Extra, Chivas 18, Chivas Ultis, Chivas 25, ultra-prestige blend and pinnacle of the range Chivas Regal The Icon, and the Global Travel Retail exclusive Chivas Brothers Blend. Launched in October 2016, Chivas Regal Ultis is the first blended malt Scotch from the House of Chivas and represents the true essence of Chivas Regal. www.chivas.com
ABOUT #WINTHERIGHTWAY – CAMPAIGN MANIFESTO
“We believe generosity and success go hand in hand. That being generous with our time and knowledge, creates greater success for ourselves and for others. That business should solve social problems not create them, that people are as important as profit, and that the individual pursuit of wealth has created problems for us all. We believe in sharing our success, supporting local communities, and investing in social businesses. It’s at the heart of what we do.”
ABOUT DEV PATEL
Dev catapulted to success in 2009 when he starred in the Academy Award winning film SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, directed by Danny Boyle, receiving rave reviews for his performance and garnering a number of award wins including the National Board of Review Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, The British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer. Dev Patel was most recently seen in theatres starring opposite Nicole Kidman and Sunny Parwar in Weinstein Cos Academy Award nominated LION, directed by Garth Davis. Dev won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. He was also nominated for an ACADEMY AWARD, GOLDEN GLOBE, SAG, and BROADCAST CRITICS AWARD.
ABOUT THE #LIONHEART CAMPAIGN – VARIETY INTERVIEW
See-Saw Films is partnering with The Weinstein Company (TWC) and The Charity Network to launch #LionHeart, which will provide financial support to the over 11 million children who live on the streets of India. As part of the effort, Dev Patel, the star of the upcoming drama, is appearing in a video that discusses some of the issues in the country and to urge viewers to donate money. “Lion” recounts the story of Saroo Brierley, an Indian boy who got separated from his family and was later adopted by an Australian couple. As an adult, Brierley used Google Earth to find his biological family and reunite with them. “Unfortunately, stories like Saroo’s are all too common. Over 80,000 children go missing each year and there are over 11 million children living on the streets in India alone,” Patel said in a statement. “There are organisations on the ground doing amazing work to help kids like Saroo. And the best way we can help is by giving them the financial support they so desperately need.”
The partners say that more than 80,000 children in India go missing every year. The non-profit organisations that #LionHeart will support include Magic Bus, which educates at risk children and provides them with life-skills necessary to move out of poverty, as well as Railway Children, a charity that works with kids living on the streets and railways stations to prevent them from being exploited or abused.
Julian 
Wire 