Shah Rukh Khan is set to receive an honorary doctorate from the La Trobe University in Australia in recognition of his humanitarian efforts to support underprivileged children and advocate for women empowerment through his NGO the Meer Foundation. Named after Shah Rukh’s father, the foundation is a philanthropic organisation that works with acid attack survivors, offering them medical treatment, legal aid, vocational training and rehabilitation. The actor will be presented with the doctorate on 9 August, during his visit to the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
In response to the news, Shah Rukh said, “I’m proud to be conferred with a great University like La Trobe which has a long-standing relationship with Indian culture and impressive track record in advocating for women’s equality. I feel truly privileged to receive this Honorary Doctorate and I would like to sincerely thank La Trobe for choosing to recognise my achievements in such a humbling way.”
Shah Rukh has also been named the chief guest for the 10th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, which will run from 9 August to 17 August. Shah Rukh Khan will be opening the festival on 8 August along with other guests and in the company of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange.
Shah Rukh Khan was last seen in Aanand L Rai’s 2018 film Zero. He has also been roped in to voice the role of Mufasa in the Hindi version of Disney’s live action remake of The Lion King, with his son Aryan voicing Simba.
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