Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who opened the 66th Cannes International Film Festival with his 'The Great Gatsby' co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, said it was "the proudest moment" for him to address the global audience in his mother tongue Hindi.
The 70-year-old actor has a cameo in Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' and Bachchan said the event became more memorable as the festival is celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema.
"Acknowledging Cannes in recognising 100 years of Indian Cinema, it was absolutely imperative for me to address, in my mother tongue... Director of Cannes delighted to hear the 'music of the Hindi language' spoken, it brought in the universality of the occasion," Bachchan posted on Twitter.
Bachchan said that he was overwhelmed to be invited on stage to open the prestigious festival with DiCaprio.
"The honour and respect meted out by Cannes, incredible. Announcing suddenly for Leonardo DiCaprio and myself to open the festival. With the entire world film fraternity at Cannes, applauding and welcoming our presence, treating us like royalty ... It's emotional.
"Truly a historic moment for me, but immensely historic and honorable for the Indian Film Industry, a fraternity that I am and shall always be most proud of," Bachchan posted.
The actor said he is now waiting for his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to arrive with his granddaughter.
"Media tomorrow, and then wait for the 'bahurani' to arrive with 'bitiya', meet them and get on plane back to London and then home!!," he posted.
This year four Indian films have been selected in different non-competition categories. 'Bombay Talkies', an anthology film by four directors - Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar - will have a gala screening.
Kashyap will also be screening his 'Ugly' in festival's Directors' Fortnight sidebar where he earlier showcased his two-part revenge drama 'Gangs of Wasseypur'.
'Dabba' (Lunchbox) and 'Monsoon Shootout', co-produced by Kashyap, have been selected for Cannes Critics Week and Midnight Screening sections respectively.
The festival which began here yesterday will end on May 26.
