New Delhi [India], July 4: Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan will grace the 16th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) as its chief guest, the organisers announced Thursday. The festival, scheduled from August 14 to August 25, will also host actor-comedian Vir Das as a guest.
Sharing the news on Instagram, IFFM praised Khan as a “global icon” whose work has redefined Indian cinema and sparked worldwide conversations, especially through culturally impactful films like Taare Zameen Par. The festival credited the film for encouraging inclusive education policies in India and noted its popularity across Asia, particularly in China and the Middle East.
Khan was recently seen in Sitaare Zameen Par, a spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par, which earned over ₹100 crore globally. The film, directed by R.S. Prasanna, focuses on the challenges faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities striving for success in a basketball competition. Special screenings of the film were held in Delhi and Mumbai, attended by dignitaries including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Up next, Aamir Khan will appear in Coolie, a Tamil-language action thriller starring Rajinikanth. The film’s first-look poster shows Khan in a rugged avatar, sparking excitement among fans. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Sun Pictures, Coolie also stars Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Soubin Shahir, and Upendra. The film is set to release in theatres on August 14.