Melbourne: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne kick started their 10th year celebrations here Thursday. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the guest of honour at the festival, couldn’t help but take a jibe at himself for not making as many hits as he would like to.
Shah Rukh Khan had earlier shot for the 2007 blockbuster ‘Chak De! India’ in Australia, and he said that he is happy to be back in the country. The actor, whose last few releases including ‘Zero’ and ‘Fan’ have failed to live up to expectations of fans, quipped: “Many years ago in 2006-07, I came here when I was a rising superstar, giving hit film after hit film. Now I am back, still a rising superstar not making as many hit films (chuckles) as I would want to.”
Shah Rukh Khan’s good friend and filmmaker Karan Johar was also present at the event. “He fully represents superstardom. I firmly believe, in the era we belonged to, the term is understood because of him. It’s not just about his large heart but his tremendous presence and aura. The fact that he is an outstanding actor is hugest icing on the cake,” Karan Johar said while talking about Shah Rukh.
Karan Johar thanked the people behind the festival for making it what it is. “I have to start by thanking Mitu Bhowmick Lange (director of the festival) who has been such a strong force right through the festival. It’s not the films but the people behind the festival who make it what it is. When I see this fantastic panel and we say the theme is courage, I say the panel is reflective of the glorious courage of our films and changing face of Indian cinema,” said Johar.
“It represents three feature films that have changed the way we look at Indian cinema and how it has travelled across the globe and will continue to do so. There is ‘Super Deluxe’, ‘Andhadhun’ and ‘Gully Boy’. All of these have appealed not only to the diaspora but to international audiences across the globe, making Indian cinema so proud,” added the filmmaker.
Also in attendance were filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Rima Das, Thiagarajan Kumararaja and Sriram Raghavan, and actors Tabu and Arjun Kapoor.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will go on from August 8 to 15. It will screen over 60 films from all across India and the sub-continent in over 22 languages.
IANS