The festival’s website identified Shah Rukh Khan as the recipient of this year’s award, calling him a ‘living symbol’ for demonstrating the vitality of Indian film.
Shah Rukh Khan will get the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera award at the Locarno Film Festival for his professional achievements. The Festival website said on Tuesday that the prize will honour the Bollywood superstar’s remarkable career in Indian cinema’.
Shah Rukh Khan will collect the prize on August 10 at Piazza Grande, an open-air venue. One of his most well-known films, Devdas, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will also be presented during the festival. Shah Rukh is scheduled to attend at the Forum @Spazio Cinema for a talk on August 11.
In a statement, Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, said, “Welcoming a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan to Locarno is a dream come true! His contributions to Indian cinema are unsurpassed in their wealth and scope. Khan is a king who never lost contact with the people who crowned him. This fearless and adventurous artist has always been prepared to push himself while staying faithful to what his fans around the world demand from his films. Shah Rukh Khan is a modern-day legend, a true ‘people’s hero’ who is both sophisticated and approachable.
Shah Rukh Khan had a successful 2023, with three films in a row following a four-year hiatus. He made a big screen comeback with YRF’s Pathaan and then collaborated with Atlee on Jawan. Both films were blockbusters that broke box office records, making them among the year’s highest-grossing pictures. Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki was Shah Rukh’s third and final film releasing in 2023.
