Festival (KIFF) on Saturday, November 10. Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma were also there at the glitzy event for the promotion of their upcoming film Jab Tak Hai Jaan.
Calling himself one of the organisers of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan Saturday disclosed he had roped in actresses Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma for the fest's inauguration.
The 18th KIFF, inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh, Saturday, had a glitzy and glamorous opening ceremony with Katrina, Anushka and Mithun Chakraborty at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Shah Rukh, the brand ambassador of West Bengal, said: "This time I come from the side of the organisers and so I have requested both the beauties Anushka and Katrina to be a part of it. I will also have to welcome Mithun da and Amitji."
The actor, alongside Katrina and Anushka, his co-stars in forthcoming release Jab Tak Hai Jaan, was also here to promote the romantic film, releasing Nov 13.
The film is late Yash Chopra’s last directorial venture. A grand premiere for the movie is being planned in Mumbai Nov 12.
"We would have loved to premiere the film at the festival but because of Yashji's demise, we are premiering it at his studio in Mumbai Nov 12," said Shah Rukh.
Stressing on the importance of film festivals, he said they "must be encouraged as they bring international cinema to a huge audience."
Jailbirds' show mesmerises Amitabh at film fest inauguration
He played a jailbird in many of his films and on saturday, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, in the company pf Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma watched a dance drama by prisoners at the inauguration of the 18th Kolkata International Film Festival here Saturday.
Bachchan, the chief guest at the festival, enjoyed the eight-minute dance drama, an excerpt from Rabindranath Tagore's "Valmiki Pratibha" directed by dancer and choreographer Alakananda Roy.
The dance drama at the Netaji Indoor Stadium was the inspirational story of the dacoit Ratnakar and his eventual transformation into a 'valmiki' (sage).
The group of 48 dancers are inmates of the city correctional homes.
"Thank you all for appreciating the artists in them (prisoners). With your love and their hard work they can ignite the artists in them," Roy said.
"Let us give them a second chance, if not a third. Let's not push them aside, rather forgive their follies and inspire and wish them for a new beginning," added Roy.
long Live SRK