Karan Johar and Rani Mukerji have been invited to present a keynote speech at the Australian Parliament House tomorrow, according to a Variety report. It is set to take place just two days ahead of the 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, commencing on India's Independence Day. The invitation follows a new film coproduction treaty between the two countries.
Karan and Rani are set to discuss the power of cinema to cut across geographical boundaries and bridge cultures.
Rani said, “I’m proud to represent the Indian film fraternity at the Australian Parliament House and speak about the rich history of cinema that we have offered to the world at large. This is a milestone moment for our fraternity and it would be an honor for me to speak about the growing cultural ties between Australia and India through cinema.”
The actor went on to add, “Indian cinema comprising Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Hindi and others, is right now at the forefront of shaping pop culture worldwide with our talent, our films making a mark globally. Our films bring a lot of joy to the world, our films bring a lot of color in people’s lives.”
Johar stated, “I am deeply honored to be invited to speak at the Australian Parliament House. I am thrilled to be a part of this historic event and to celebrate the incredible journey of Indian cinema.”
He added, “It’s incredible to see how far the stories we as an industry create travels, and this moment is a testament to the growing influence of the cultural impact of Indian cinema. I’m grateful to the house, the members of the parliament for extending this invite and to have me represent the rich legacy of cinema and storytelling,”
Mitu Bhowmik Lange, IFFM's festival director, stated, “This is a landmark year for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as we celebrate our 15th year. Having Rani Mukherji and Karan Johar as keynote speakers at the Australian Parliament House is a testament to the festival’s growing influence and recognition.”
The keynote address is set to attract dignitaries such as parliament members and ministers, among others.