Dulquer Salmaan, Rishab Shetty, Vijay Varma & More Grace Indian Film Festival of Melbourne; Know What They Spoke About

The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) continued its tradition of celebrating Indian cinema on an international platform, bringing together established stars, acclaimed filmmakers and emerging voices. Several actors and filmmakers, including Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar, singer Nikhita Gandhi, Dolly Singh, Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad, and R.S. Prasanna, graced the press conference. The edition showcases the richness and diversity of Indian storytelling while creating a space for meaningful conversations around cinema, culture and representation.

Here’s what the attendees had to share at the IFFM.

Artists and Filmmakers Come Together for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

Leading names from Indian cinema came together to mark the opening of the 17th edition of IFFM 2026. The opening event set the tone for a festival celebrating the diversity, scale, and global impact of Indian storytelling. Superstars Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar, singer Nikhita Gandhi, Dolly Singh, along with acclaimed filmmakers Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad, and R.S. Prasanna, and the cast of Lala and Poppy were present at the occasion. Take a look! 

The artistes and filmmakers spoke about their work, their association with IFFM, the changing landscape of Indian cinema, and the growing international interest in Indian stories. The diverse line-up of talent also reflected IFFM’s continued focus on bringing together voices from across India’s many film industries and creative disciplines.

Sharing his thoughts on the changing landscape of Indian cinema and the growing appreciation for Indian films and artistes among international audiences, Dulquer Salmaan shared, “It’s my first time here in Australia. I’m glad that the start is with Indian film festival of Melbourne. I’m happy to be here with my film Lokah, celebrating Kerala’s folklore mixed with a superhero story. I’m the glad has traveled so much, more than we could have ever imagined.” 

Shedding light on the growing global recognition of Indian cinema and the significance of platforms such as IFFM in taking Indian stories and regional voices to audiences across the world, filmmaker Rishabh Shetty stated, “I feel proud to be here. They’re invited me here to represent Kannada cinema, and I’m very proud of it. To see Kannada cinema get such recognition on an international stage is simply marvellous. To be with literally the entire Indian cinema representatives and so many people here from the Indian film industry. I wish all the best to all the filmmakers at the festival.”

The Indian  Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) is the largest annual celebration of Indian cinema outside of India. This year’s edition kicks off from Aug. 13 till Aug. 23.