Indian director Farah Khan, best known for films like “Main Hoon Na”, “Om Shanti Om” and “Happy New Year”, has been honoured at the 37th Cairo International Film Festival and said that her visist to Egypt is a strong message for people that the country is safe.
Farah, 50, was given a warm welcome by her Egyptian fans, and Bollywood cinema lovers.
“I have three children and I came here and I think that action is better than words. You can see that I came to Egypt and it is safe,” the director told reporters.
The filmmaker said that she has visited Egypt three times earlier and has shot song sequences in historical places including the Pyramids.
When asked about the places in Egypt she wants to shoot a film, she said that Sphinx, the Nile River are on the top of her list.
The director expressed her happiness for being invited for Egypt’s prestigious international festival.
“It is a great honour for me to be here,” said Khan, adding, she is happy to be honoured with the Faten Hamama Award for excellence in cinema at the CIFF.
Farah’s 2007 film “Om Shanti Om”, starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan, will be screened on November 19 at the fest. The movie also stars Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade and Kirron Kher.
Before the screening, Farah will be received with a special reception and will also grace the red carpet.
The director was supposed to attend the opening of the festival that took place last week, but postponed her arrival as wanted to spend more time with her family.
“I wanted to spend the vacation with my children,” she said.
She said the identity of the Indian movies is unique for their dances, songs and colourful costumes.
“We represent the soul of India in our films and people like our movies as we show the celebration of life that we have,” she said.
Farah said if she ever makes a Hollywood movie, she wants to work with actor Tom Cruise and make him dance.
When asked about Egyptian cinema, the director said she wishes that the movies could be screened in India because there is a great similarity between the two countries.
Farah said she is preparing for her new movie “Power Girls”. The director also clicked pictures with all the women in the conference.
“I’m happy to see this large number of women in the hall (of the conference). You are all ‘power women’,” she said.
The 37th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival will be come to a close on November 20.