Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan added another accolade to his illustrious career at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, where he was presented with a career achievement honor. The superstar, known for his wit as much as his on-screen performances, delivered a heart-touching acceptance speech that blended heartfelt reflections on cinema with his trademark humor.
“Thank you all for welcoming me with such wide arms – wider than the ones I do on screen,” he quipped, referencing his famous open-armed pose.
The actor, went on to praise the festival’s location. “It’s a very beautiful, very cultural, very artistic, and extremely hot city of Locarno,” he remarked, adding with a grin, “So many people stuffed up in a little square and so hot. It’s just like being home in India.” The temperature touched 95º F (35º C) in Locarno on Saturday and the Piazza Grande was humid as well.
Khan’s further delved into his thoughts on cinema and creativity. “I truly believe cinema has been the most profound and influential artistic medium of our age,” he said. “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, stating, “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.” He continued, “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.”
Here is the speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ0a9hs_Rm4
During a speech, a fan screamed 'I love you' from the audience. Shah Rukh said, "I love you also. All dramatics continues after the serious speech. It's the Locarno Film Festival, we all need to sound intellectual, ok?"
He added, "My day has been wonderful, the food has been nice, my Italian is improving, so has been my cooking." He then spoke Italian and translated, “I can cook pasta and pizza also. I'm learning here in Locarno.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8KNAXBL4s