The 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa commenced with a spectacular opening ceremony, where the worlds of glamour and artistry collided on the grand stage.
The event, headlined by Bollywood stars Shahid Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, featured an array of talent including Shriya Saran, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Pankaj Tripathi, and musical maestros Shantanu Moitra, Shreya Ghoshal, and Sukhwinder Singh. Aparshakti Khurana and Karishma Tanna took the reins as hosts, ushering in the cinematic extravaganza at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa.
#WATCH | Panaji: Actors Shahid Kapoor, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Union Minister for I&B Anurag Thakur arrived at the opening ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), in Goa. pic.twitter.com/ETQfbIUi1H
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2023
Adding a delightful touch to the star-studded affair, a viral video captured a moment of lighthearted banter between Nushrratt, India’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, and Shahid Kapoor. When the paparazzi prompted the Minister to strike a pose, he responded, “Jaha Shahid ki gardan ghumegi, main wahi ghoomunga” (Where Shahid turns his neck, I’ll follow suit). The playful exchange elicited laughter from Nushrratt and Shahid, providing a glimpse of the camaraderie at the prestigious event.
Amidst the glitz and glamour, Madhuri Dixit graced the stage with a mesmerizing medley of her iconic songs, expressing her gratitude to cinema and her desire to give back through the art of song and dance.
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Shahid Kapoor, too, set the stage ablaze with his performance, reminiscent of his Kabir Singh persona, creating waves on social media. The opening ceremony also saw Karan Johar and Sara Ali Khan unveiling the first look and a motion teaser of their drama-thriller, “Ae Watan Mere Watan,” adding to the cinematic excitement of IFFI Goa’s inaugural night.