One of the filmmakers mingling with journalists lining the red carpet on Wednesday, December 9, the opening night, was Indian director Nagesh Kukunoor, whose children's movie Dhanak (Rainbow) is screening at the festival.
His film, which has its regional premiere on Friday, December 11, tells the story of a young blind boy, Chotu, and his doting older sister, Pari, who sees a poster about eye surgeries endorsed by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. When the siblings discover that Khan is filming only a few hundred kilometres from their village, they head out to find him.
When we caught up with Kukunoor on the red carpet, he revealed that he had no idea Khan is also scheduled to attend the festival as part of the Filmfare Middle East red carpet gala on Saturday, December 12.
Upon being told, he said: "Is he in Dubai? Oh! That's great, we'll try to get him to watch Dhanak at the screening! I never knew he was here in Dubai until this moment, so we will now extend him an invite."
It would be quite a treat for the audience planning to watch Dhanak at the festival.
Khan's latest film, Dilwale, which also stars Kajol, Kriti Sanon and Varun Dhawan, will be released in cinemas here on December 17, so the actors might be busy promoting the movie in Dubai all through the weekend.
But even if Khan doesn't find the time to show up to the Dhanak screening, Kukunoor is hopeful that he will come out in support of his film.
“I have spoken with Shah Rukh Khan about our film and eventually, when the release happens, he might still come out and support it – we’ll see.”
• Dhanak (Rainbow) is screening at Madinat Theatre on Friday, December 11, at 11am (standby tickets only; tickets may become available at 8am on the day of the screening). Also on Saturday, December 12, at Mall of the Emirates MOE 14 at 5.30pm, Dh35 per ticket
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