Rekha, Rani Mukerji, Pankaj Tripathi, Rishab Shetty and Dulquer Salmaan lead a distinguished line-up of guests and honourees as the festival celebrates cinematic excellence, cultural identity and storytelling without borders.

Melbourne is preparing to welcome some of Indian cinema’s most celebrated artists as the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) returns from August 13 to 23, 2026.
Supported by the Victorian Government, the festival will bring together filmmakers, performers and audiences through screenings, premieres, industry conversations and special events. This year’s program will also recognise an exceptional group of artists whose careers reflect the depth, diversity and growing international reach of Indian cinema.

Legendary actor Rekha will attend IFFM 2026 as Guest of Honour and receive the Excellence in Cinema Award for her extraordinary contribution to the industry. In one of the festival’s most significant community events, she will hoist the Indian national flag in Melbourne as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
The occasion will be complemented by a special screening of Umrao Jaan, the 1981 classic that remains among Rekha’s most acclaimed films. Reflecting on its enduring place in her life, the actor said the character had never left her and continued to live in her memories and in the hearts of audiences.
“Cinema has been my life’s greatest blessing,” Rekha said, describing the IFFM honour as both humbling and deeply meaningful. She also dedicated the recognition to the filmmakers, writers, musicians and collaborators who helped shape her artistic journey.
Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange described Rekha as a timeless icon whose influence extends beyond the screen and into India’s cultural consciousness. She said the actor’s participation in the annual flag-hoisting ceremony would add an unforgettable chapter to one of IFFM’s most cherished traditions.

Rani Mukerji will receive another major recognition during the festival, with La Trobe University conferring upon her an Honorary Doctor of Letters. The degree will be presented at a special ceremony at Federation Square on August 14.
The honour acknowledges Mukerji’s contribution to Indian cinema over nearly three decades, alongside her humanitarian work supporting women, children and marginalised communities. Through acclaimed films including Black, No One Killed Jessica, Hichki, the Mardaani franchise and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, she has brought issues such as gender justice, disability inclusion and social change into mainstream cinematic storytelling.
Mukerji said cinema had been her greatest teacher and had allowed her to tell stories of resilience, passion and courage. She dedicated the Australian honour to India and to audiences around the world whose support had empowered her career.

National Award-winning actor Pankaj Tripathi will make his first appearance at IFFM to receive the Artist of Distinction Award at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on August 13. The recognition celebrates a career distinguished by authenticity, emotional depth and memorable performances across both mainstream and independent productions.
From Sultan Qureshi in Gangs of Wasseypur to Kaleen Bhaiya in Mirzapur, and his acclaimed work in Mimi, Tripathi has created characters that have become cultural touchstones. Recalling his journey from a small village in Bihar to international recognition, he said the award belonged equally to the writers, filmmakers, technicians, fellow actors and audiences who had supported him.

Actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty will be presented with IFFM’s Leadership in Cinema Award, recognising his role in taking culturally authentic and artistically ambitious Indian stories to global audiences. Best known for the Kantara franchise, Shetty has emerged as a distinctive creative voice whose work demonstrates how locally rooted narratives can resonate far beyond their place of origin.
Shetty said storytelling had always been his way of celebrating culture, traditions and communities. He described it as especially meaningful to see stories grounded in Indian heritage connect with viewers around the world. The actor-filmmaker is also set to star in the forthcoming two-part historical epic The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Adding further star power to the festival, Dulquer Salmaan will attend as a Guest of Honour and be celebrated as one of Indian cinema’s leading contemporary stars. Over the past decade, Salmaan has built an impressive multilingual career spanning Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema.
His ability to move between languages, genres and film industries has made him one of the most recognisable performers of his generation. Salmaan said he had always believed in the ability of stories to travel beyond linguistic and geographical boundaries and looked forward to connecting with Melbourne audiences.

Together, this year’s honourees represent different generations, regions and storytelling traditions. From Rekha’s enduring legacy and Mukerji’s socially conscious performances to Tripathi’s grounded artistry, Shetty’s culturally rooted filmmaking and Salmaan’s pan-Indian appeal, IFFM 2026 presents a compelling portrait of Indian cinema in all its richness.
As Melbourne once again becomes a meeting point for artists and audiences from across the world, the festival continues to strengthen the cultural relationship between India and Australia—celebrating not only cinematic achievement, but the universal power of stories to connect communities across borders.

G’day India