West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined Film Director Mahesh Bhatt, former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly, actors Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha on stage and danced with them at the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF). The event was attended by a galaxy of actors from Bollywood and the city.
According to the video, Bollywood actor Salman Khan is seen asking Mamata Banerjee to come on the stage and dance. The Chief Minister initially resisted but respected the gesture of the actor.
Speaking at the 29th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival, Mamata Banerjee said that no force could divide the country, emphasising that people of all religions, castes, and creeds would remain united as a collective expression of love for the motherland.
Responding to a statement by Trinamool Congress MP and actor Shatrughan Sinha, who urged good people to enter politics, Banerjee echoed the sentiment.
"Shatrughan Sinha Ji was saying that we should not be afraid of anyone. Yes, we should be afraid of none; no power can divide us. All the religions, castes, and creeds will stay united, as all of us love the country," the chief minister said.
Banerjee, without naming anyone, emphasised the importance of continuing the ideological struggle.
The inaugural session featured prominent figures such as superstar Salman Khan, actors Anil Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, and West Bengal's newly appointed brand ambassador Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian cricket captain.
Turning to Khan and Kapoor, Banerjee said, "If you want to give something to Bengal, make Bengal your future film destination… Go to Birbhum, go to Darjeeling, Kalimpong... There are so many places in Bengal as tourist locations."
In reply, Khan said, "I never break my promise. If I give a promise for shooting, I will come," eliciting thunderous applause from the crowd. The chief minister also urged Khan to attend the next film festival.
"You will come for Raksha Bandhan. None is as hospitable and warm as Bengal," she said.
Salman Khan, Mahesh Bhatt, Anil Kapoor, cricket icon Sourav Ganguly - everyone paid rich tributes to the creative film-makers of the state - Mrinal Sen, Satyajit Ray, Tarun Majumder, Basu Chatterjee, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and others.
After the ceremony, matinee idol Uttam Kumar starrer 50s classic ‘Deya Neya’ was screened before around 10,000 audience at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.
The 29th KIFF, scheduled from December 5 to 12 across 23 venues in the city, will showcase a total of 219 movies from 39 countries.
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