Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be gracing this year’s Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as the festival’s chief guest. The announcement was made by festival organisers on Thursday. Shah Rukh Khan said that he is honoured and delighted to accept the invitation.
“An industry of our magnitude and diversity deserves to be celebrated with great passion and fervour, which is what the festival embodies.”Shah Rukh Khan, Actor
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is back for its 10th edition. Its central theme being “courage”. 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.
"I'm particularly pleased with the theme of the festival this year which is courage, an emotion that resonates with storytellers who really have the might to change the society and the world. I have had great memories of shooting for Chak De! India in Melbourne and look forward to being back again, this time to celebrate Indian cinema," the actor added in a statement.
Naturally, the organisers are looking forward to having an Indian actor at the festival.
The festival has also announced a new Bollywood and Indian Cinema Attraction Fund to make more Indian film productions accessible in Victoria. Calling Shah Rukh Khan “an icon of Indian cinema internationally”, the festival organisers said that they’re excited and looking forward to hosting SRK in the city.
The festival will go on from 9 August to 17 August.
Shah Rukh Khan was last seen in Aanand L. Rai’s Zero, alongside Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. Next up, Shah Rukh Khan will be seen on American talk show host David Letterman’s couch. The actor recently flew to the USA to film the same. David Letterman was also recently spotted at SRK’s house in Mumbai on Eid.
(With inputs from PTI)
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