Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured at the 77th edition of Locarno Film Festival with the career achievement award, the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism.
The award will pay tribute to his remarkable career in Indian cinema, which comprises more than 100 films in multiple genres.
The 58-year-old actor will receive the award on the evening of August 10, Saturday, on Piazza Grande.
In addition, a key film from Shah Rukh Khan’s career, Devdas (by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 2002), will be screened during the festival. SRK will take part in a discussion on Sunday, August 11.
His breakout role was in the romantic thriller Baazigar (1993), where Khan starred as a murderous but sympathetic anti-hero on a quest for vengeance. A few years later, he would be propelled to superstar status on the back of a timeless romantic drama, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), and a love-story across timelines, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).
At the same time, the enormity of this newfound fame did not deter Khan from taking on roles that were different and much ahead of their times, such as Rahul in Darr (1993), a romantic psychological thriller directed by Yash Chopra, or as a journalist who falls in love with a terrorist in the epic Dil Se.. (1998) by Mani Ratnam.
In the subsequent two decades, Khan’s career would feature high-profile collaborations with some of India’s most prominent directors and stars, leading to tremendous recognition internationally as well.
Khan was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2007 and the Légion d’honneur in 2014 by the French government. Shah Rukh Khan’s recent releases include three films that were released in 2023, Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki, all of which were huge commercial successes and garnered immense appreciation from global audiences.
Jawan, produced by Khan’s own production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, has entered history books as the highest grossing Hindi film ever, reaffirming the actor’s status as one of the most beloved Indian stars of his generation.
Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, said, “To welcome a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan in Locarno is a dream come true! The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented.
“Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him. This brave and daring artist has always been willing to challenge himself while remaining true to what his fans all over the world eagerly expect from his films.
“A true ‘people’s hero’, sophisticated and down to earth, Shah Rukh Khan is a legend of our times,” he added.
The 77th Locarno Film Festival will take place from August 7 to 17, 2024.
