Art is the act of affirming life: Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan at Locarno Film Fest

Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who will be next seen in ‘King’, was conferred a career achievement honour at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, in Switzerland. The superstar, known for his wit as much as his on-screen performances, delivered an acceptance speech that blended heartfelt reflections on cinema with his trademark humour.

Addressing the packed 8,000-strong crowd in Locarno’s Piazza Grande, Khan began by acknowledging the warm reception he received. Referencing his famous open-armed pose, he said: “Thank you all for welcoming me with such wide arms – wider than the ones I do on screen.” The actor went on to praise the festival’s location. He said: “It is a very beautiful, very cultural, very artistic, and extremely hot city of Locarno. So many people stuffed up in a little square and so hot. It is just like being home in India.” The temperature touched 35 degrees Celsius, and Locarno and the Piazza Grande were humid as well.

His speech took a more serious turn as he delved into his thoughts on cinema and creativity. He continued: “I truly believe cinema has been the most profound and influential artistic medium of our age. I’ve had the privilege of being part of this for many years, and this journey has taught me a few lessons.” The actor emphasized the universal nature of art and filmmaking: “Art is the act of affirming life above all. It goes beyond every man-made boundary into a space of liberation. It need not be political. It need not be polemical. It need not sermonize. It need not intellectualize. It need not moralize.”

“Art and cinema only need to say what it feels from the heart, to express its own truth. And that, to me, is the biggest creativity, honestly,” he added. (IANS)

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