Anil Kapoor at Kolkata French Film Festival inauguration
Yesterday, on February 16, the first edition of The Kolkata French Film Festival was launched at Nandan. The 8-day-long festival is jointly organized by the West Bengal government and the Alliance Française du Bengale. The inaugural ceremony had Anil Kapoor as the chief guest.
At the event, the French Counsel General presented Anil Kapoor with a special behind-the-scenes photo from his acclaimed film 'Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya.' Captured by the legendary photographer Nemai Ghosh, the photograph offered a glimpse into the creative process behind the movie.
Anil, who started his journey in cinema with 'Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya,' shared his feelings about being present at the event and said, "Kolkata means a lot to me because I started my career here. 'Kahan se Guzar Gaya' was my first film, which was shot in 1980. This is one of the best cinema destinations, and both France and Bengal have some of the best filmmakers."
Further in his address to the audience, Anil Kapoor expressed his gratitude for being a part of the festival and emphasized the importance of promoting cross-cultural understanding through cinema. He lauded the efforts of the organizers in bringing together filmmakers and cinephiles from different parts of the world, fostering a sense of unity amidst diversity.
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Note that the festival is divided into four sections: French New Wave, French Contemporary Films, Films for Young Audiences, and Indian Filmmakers featured in the Cannes Film Festival.
As the curtains rose on the first edition of the French Film Festival in Kolkata, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the city's cultural landscape. With Anil Kapoor's star power and the collective enthusiasm of the attendees, the festival promised to be a resounding success, paving the way for future collaborations and cultural exchanges between India and France.
For the unversed, Anil Kapoor was supposed to be launched in Hindi with 'Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya,' but the movie got delayed due to some issues. On the work front, the actor was most recently seen in 'Fighter' alongside Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone.
âFighter,' which was released a day prior to Republic Day in India, follows the dramatized events after the Pulwama attack on CRPF personnel and how India retaliated by conducting an airstrike at a terrorist camp. The story develops through the events following a terrorist attack. As the story progresses, they fall in love.