Shah Rukh Khan To Get Career Achievement Award At Locarno Film Festival

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured with the career achievement award at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, as announced by the organisers on Tuesday.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured with the career achievement award at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, as announced by the organisers on Tuesday. This marks a significant milestone as Khan becomes the first Indian to receive the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism award. 

SRK to get career achievement award

The 58-year-old actor will accept the award on August 10 at the Piazza Grande in Locarno, Switzerland. To celebrate his illustrious career, his 2002 film ‘Devdas,’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will be screened during the festival, which kicks off on August 7. Additionally, Khan will engage in a public conversation at the Forum @Spazio Cinema on August 11. 

The festival's organisers praised Khan's extensive body of work, highlighting his contributions to Indian cinema across more than 100 films spanning various genres. Shah Rukh Khan recently made a triumphant return to the big screen after a five-year hiatus with the 2023 blockbuster ‘Pathaan,’ followed by successful releases ‘Jawan’ and ‘Dunki.’ 

Locarno Film Festival organisers on Shah Rukh Khan

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, expressed his excitement in a statement, stating, "Welcoming a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan to Locarno is a dream come true. The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema are 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." 

The Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism award recognises individuals whose artistic contributions have significantly redefined cinema and the collective imagination. Previous recipients include Italian filmmaker Francesco Rosi, American singer-actor Harry Belafonte, and Malaysian director Tsai Ming-liang. 

Shah Rukh Khan's illustrious career includes over 100 feature films, and he has received numerous honorurs, including the Padma Shri from the Indian government and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Légion d’honneur from the French government. 

The 77th Locarno Film Festival will conclude on August 17.