Rani Mukherjee Hoists National Flag In Melbourne, Remembers Father Ram Mukherjee

Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee opened the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)  by hoisting the Indian National flag at the federation square in Melbourne. The actress did the honours in the presence of the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and IFFM director Mitu Lange.

Rani looked gorgeous in a white floral print saree, with a shawl and a pearl necklace to go with it.

In her speech, during the opening of the festival, the ‘Dil Bole Hadippa’ actress said that it is a matter of national honour to hoist the national flag. She said that she is immensely proud that she has been bestowed with this honour on a land far away from India.

Rani Mukherjee got emotional as she remembered her father, Ram Mukherjee, who passed away last October. Her father was a film director and screenwriter for Hindi and Bengali cinema. In her speech, she said that she remembers the patriotic song 'Chodo Kal Ki Baatein' from her father's film 'Hum Hindustani'. 

Rani Mukherjee's comeback film 'Hichki' will be screened at the festival. The film is about a woman with Tourette syndrome who lands up with the job of a teacher. The film is the adaptation of  Brad Cohen's autobiography 'Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had.'

Actor Vicky Kaushal and his ‘Sanju’ director Rajkumar Hirani were also present at the ninth edition of IFFM. Sanjay Dutt’s biopic ‘Sanju’ was to be screened at the festival. The film had received immense praise and love in India. Vicky Kaushal played a pivotal role in the film.

Vicky Kaushal is riding high on the success of his latest venture, was seen enjoying with the crowd and obliging for selfies and autographs.  

Other Indian celebrities who were present at the event were Ali Fazal, Tabrez Noorani and Richa Chadha. IFFM 2018 will be screening 60 films across 20 languages. Freida Pinto is part of the film 'Love Sonia’ helmed by Tabrez Noorani and which also stars  Mrunal Thakur, Richa Chadha and Demi Moore. The film opened the festival on August 10.