Chopard and Rishabh Tongya Hosted One of Cannes 2026's Most Talked-About Evenings — and It Was All for a Cause

Cannes has no shortage of glamorous evenings during the film festival. But on May 19, 2026, the Chopard Rooftop at the iconic Hôtel Martinez played host to something that reached beyond the usual rhythm of screenings and after-parties.

The Golden Soirée, hosted by Chopard Co-President Caroline Scheufele and Indian entrepreneur Rishabh Tongya, unfolded as a philanthropic evening shaped by the spirit of Indian cinema, raising €410,000 for five international foundations over the course of the night.

At Robb Report India, our focus has always extended beyond the finest things to the most meaningful ones. Stories of Impact, our digital IP, is our space for exactly that: the people, evenings, and initiatives that use influence, access, and resources to move something forward in the world. The Golden Soirée at Cannes 2026 was one of those stories.

The guest list drew from cinema, luxury, art, music, and business across India, the Gulf, and Europe. The evening was presented by Archana Vijaya Puri, with a special performance by Indian music icon Badshah. Immersive artistic performances, curated films, and a charity auction ran through the night. The auction featured world-premiere Chopard creations, including Happy Diamonds and Happy Sport India Edition pieces, an exceptional creation by Caroline Couture, a Chopard High Jewellery diamond parure, and a private 1, Place Vendôme hotel experience. Every euro raised through the auction went directly to the five foundations. 

The Auction

Among the evening's notable bidders were entrepreneur Abbas H. Sajwani, businessman and investor Vikram Shroff, entrepreneur Sajal Garg, media personality and philanthropist Loujain Adada Juffali, and entrepreneur Samay Manyal. Remarks through the evening came from Petra Nemcova, Natalia Kapchuk, Abbas Sajwani, and Prince Charles Henri de Lipkowitz, each speaking to the communities and initiatives the night was raising funds for.

The Foundations

The five foundations supported by the Golden Soirée cover a considered range of causes. All Hands and Hearts works on disaster relief and community rebuilding across Nepal, Mexico, the Philippines, Haiti, and the United States. BMVSS Jaipur Foot, founded in India and active across multiple countries, provides free prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation services to people with disabilities — and has done so for millions. The OpenAg Foundation supports smallholder farmers globally, promoting sustainable agriculture and clean water access in the face of climate change. The Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation has delivered meals, education, and social assistance across more than 50 countries. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, founded in 2006, focuses on climate action, biodiversity, and ocean preservation across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the polar regions.

The Golden Soirée was Tongya's vision of what an international philanthropic platform could look like — one where glamour and generosity are not in conflict but in conversation. For Cannes 2026, it made a strong case that the most memorable evenings on the Croisette do not always belong to the films.