Shah Rukh Khan performs at IIFI inauguration event. (Image courtesy: PTI)
New Delhi:
The International Film Festival of India opened with a bang on November 20 in Goa in the presence of Information and Broadcast minister Smriti Irani and Bollywood celebrities such as Sridevi, Shah Rukh Khan and Shahid Kapoor among others. The film festival's Panorama Section was inaugurated by Sridevi while the 48th edition was hosted by actors Radhika Apte and Rajkummar Rao. Shah Rukh Khan enthralled the attendees with his scintillating performance - of course, SRK struck his signature pose. Here are the highlights of the International Film Festival of India:
Sridevi attended IFFI 2017 with her daughter Janhvi, who is all set for her Bollywood debut. Her maiden film was recently announced by Karan Johar and it will be directed by Shashank Khaitan.
Shah Rukh Khan's opening gig was a hit with the audience. Smriti Irani tweeted pictures and captioned it: "Thank you Shah Rukh Khan for your gracious presence at IFFI and giving such an elegant opening to IFFI 2017."
Here's a picture of Shah Rukh Khan onstage which reiterates why he's the Badshah of Bollywood:
Actor Shahid Kapoor, star of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, whose release has been deferred in wake of the rise in protests, talked about the future of Cinema at the event.
"From running in fields full of mutlicolour flowers to making films on women empowerment, I think Indian cinema has come a long way. I am very proud of this fraternity, the new generation, which is allowing this change to happen and brave people making brave films, sometimes at a great cost," he said at the event, reports PTI.
On the red carpet, Shahid was asked about the filmmakers' decision to push ahead the release of Padmavati, to which he replied: "It is a film we are very, very proud of. I am sure once people see the film, all this will be forgotten," reports PTI.
It was also a special day for Shahid's brother Ishaan Khattar, whose film Beyond The Cloud directed by Majid Majidi, screened in India for the first time:
Ishaan stars opposite Janhvi Kapoor in Karan Johar's Dhadak.
Radhika Apte and Rajkummar Rao co-hosted the event and the latter decided to pull a Shashi Tharoor (that's another story) by playing with words. While introducing Beyond The Clouds director Majid Majidi, he said that it was a co-incidence that the director was an "Irani", just like the I&B minister. Later, Smriti Irani said: "Rajkummar Rao, this (incident) should be known to the rest of the country - you poked fun at a minister. And it shows as a government how tolerant we are."
There were performances which depicted the culture of India:
The 48th International Film Festival of India started on Monday and it will run through November 28. Even before the stage was set for the inaugural ceremony, the festival featured in headlines over the government's decision to drop two films - S Durga and Nude - from the final list of the Indian Panorama section, which lead to the resignation of jury president Sujoy Ghosh and members Apurva Asrani and Gyan Correa.
(With inputs from PTI)
Sridevi attended IFFI 2017 with her daughter Janhvi, who is all set for her Bollywood debut. Her maiden film was recently announced by Karan Johar and it will be directed by Shashank Khaitan.
Grateful to @SrideviBKapoor for being part of #IFFI2017 and charming the audience with her grace. pic.twitter.com/ThxJLHIQfF
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 20, 2017
#IFFI2017 pic.twitter.com/1ADPqL9y5E
— SRIDEVI BONEY KAPOOR (@SrideviBKapoor) November 20, 2017
Shah Rukh Khan's opening gig was a hit with the audience. Smriti Irani tweeted pictures and captioned it: "Thank you Shah Rukh Khan for your gracious presence at IFFI and giving such an elegant opening to IFFI 2017."
Thank you @iamsrk for your gracious presence at @IFFIGoa and giving such an elegant opening to #IFFI2017. pic.twitter.com/8G3hjDRbuj
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 20, 2017
Here's a picture of Shah Rukh Khan onstage which reiterates why he's the Badshah of Bollywood:
Actor Shahid Kapoor, star of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, whose release has been deferred in wake of the rise in protests, talked about the future of Cinema at the event.
"From running in fields full of mutlicolour flowers to making films on women empowerment, I think Indian cinema has come a long way. I am very proud of this fraternity, the new generation, which is allowing this change to happen and brave people making brave films, sometimes at a great cost," he said at the event, reports PTI.
Thankful to @shahidkapoor for sharing his vision on the future of Cinema at #IFFI2017. pic.twitter.com/k5S368vxjE
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 20, 2017
On the red carpet, Shahid was asked about the filmmakers' decision to push ahead the release of Padmavati, to which he replied: "It is a film we are very, very proud of. I am sure once people see the film, all this will be forgotten," reports PTI.
It was also a special day for Shahid's brother Ishaan Khattar, whose film Beyond The Cloud directed by Majid Majidi, screened in India for the first time:
It is our privilege to have Majid Majidi's first Indian film 'Beyond the Clouds' open at #IFFI2017. pic.twitter.com/9WontgQiWU
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 20, 2017
Ishaan stars opposite Janhvi Kapoor in Karan Johar's Dhadak.
Radhika Apte and Rajkummar Rao co-hosted the event and the latter decided to pull a Shashi Tharoor (that's another story) by playing with words. While introducing Beyond The Clouds director Majid Majidi, he said that it was a co-incidence that the director was an "Irani", just like the I&B minister. Later, Smriti Irani said: "Rajkummar Rao, this (incident) should be known to the rest of the country - you poked fun at a minister. And it shows as a government how tolerant we are."
Compliments to @RajkummarRao & @radhika_apte for being such wonderful hosts at #IFFI2017 Opening Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/4bbO8mh2pG
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 20, 2017
There were performances which depicted the culture of India:
Performances 'Drums of India' and 'Utsav' depicted India's culture and colours magnificently! pic.twitter.com/AAO94j6Kys
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 20, 2017
The 48th International Film Festival of India started on Monday and it will run through November 28. Even before the stage was set for the inaugural ceremony, the festival featured in headlines over the government's decision to drop two films - S Durga and Nude - from the final list of the Indian Panorama section, which lead to the resignation of jury president Sujoy Ghosh and members Apurva Asrani and Gyan Correa.
(With inputs from PTI)
