Bollywood stalwarts Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar will deliver a keynote address at the Australian parliament House on Tuesday ahead of the 15th edition of the Indian Film Festival. of Melbourne, which will be held from August 15 to 25.

Both Rani and Karan have been invited to speak about the power of cinema to bring people together regardless of geographical distances. The invitation comes on the heels of a recently inked co-production treaty between India and Australia.

“This is a milestone moment for our fraternity and it would be an honour for me to speak about the growing cultural ties between Australia and India through cinema,” said Rani, expressing her excitement about the opportunity to present Indian cinema to foreign audiences.

The actress went on to speak about the power of Indian cinema. “Indian cinema is right now at the forefront of global pop culture. Our films bring a lot of joy to the world, our films bring a lot of colour in people’s lives,” she added.

“As an entertainer, I have always loved to see people going on a journey with the emotions that our cinema has to offer. I would like to congratulate the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne for their efforts in making this landmark moment possible,” she signed off.

Sharing his excitement for the chance to celebrate the incredible journey of Indian cinema at the Australian parliament, Karan couldn’t contain her glee. “It’s incredible to see how far the stories we as an industry create travels, and this moment is a testament to the growing influence of the cultural impact of Indian cinema,” he noted.

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne director Mitu Bhowmik Lange called 2024 a landmark year for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in a statement. “Having Rani Mukherji and Karan Johar as keynote speakers at the Australian parliament house is a testament to the festival’s growing influence and recognition,” she added.