SHAH RUKH KHAN TO RECEIVE LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL'S HONORARY LEOPARD ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT 77TH EDITION
Indian cinema icon Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured with the prestigious Honorary Leopard Achievement Award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, spanning over three decades and more than 100 films.
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 10, at Piazza Grande, and will include a special screening of his acclaimed film Devdas (2002), directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Khan will also participate in an open conversation at the Forum @Spazio Cinema on Sunday, August 11.
Giona A. Nazzaro, the Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, expressed his admiration, saying, “To welcome a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan to 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.”
Shah Rukh Khan, affectionately known as 'King Khan' or the 'Baadshah' of Bollywood, is celebrated globally for his dynamic roles and charismatic presence. His career highlights include Baazigar (1993), where he portrayed a complex anti-hero, and the timeless romantic dramas Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Despite his immense fame, Khan has continually chosen diverse and challenging roles, such as the obsessed lover in Darr (1993) and the journalist in Dil Se (1998).
Khan’s recent films, Pathaan (2023), Jawan (2023) and Dunki (2023), have also been massive commercial successes, further cementing his status as a global superstar. Jawan, produced by his own Red Chillies Entertainment, made history as the highest-grossing Hindi film ever.
This honour at Locarno adds to Shah Rukh Khan’s impressive list of accolades, including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2007) and the Légion d'honneur (2014) from the French government. The Locarno Film Festival, nestled between Lake Maggiore and the Swiss Alps, offers a unique setting that combines natural beauty with cultural celebration, making it a fitting venue to honour a cinematic legend.
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