Shah Rukh Khan to Be Honored With the Pardo alla Carriera

©Rohan Shrestha

At the 77th Locarno Film Festival, Indian superstar and global icon Shah Rukh Khan will be honored with the Festival’s career achievement award, the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism. This award celebrates his remarkable career in Indian cinema, spanning over 100 films across a multitude of genres. Known in India as ‘King Khan’ or the ‘Baadshah’ of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan symbolizes the vibrancy and vitality of Indian cinema. He will receive the award on the evening of Saturday, August 10 on Piazza Grande. Additionally, a key film from Khan’s career, "Devdas" (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 2002), will be screened during the Festival, and Khan will participate in a public conversation at the Forum @Spazio Cinema on Sunday, August 11.

Shah Rukh Khan’s films are globally loved, making him a hugely popular figure worldwide. He has represented his country and his films at numerous prestigious film festivals globally. His breakout role was in the romantic thriller "Baazigar" (1993), where he played a sympathetic anti-hero seeking vengeance. He achieved superstar status with the timeless romantic drama "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (1995) and the love story "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (1998). Despite his fame, Khan took on diverse and ahead-of-their-time roles, such as Rahul in "Darr" (1993), a romantic psychological thriller, and a journalist in love with a terrorist in the epic "Dil Se.." (1998).

Over the past two decades, Khan has collaborated with India’s most prominent directors and stars, earning international recognition. He was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2007 and the Légion d'honneur in 2014 by the French government. His recent releases in 2023, including "Pathaan," "Jawan," and "Dunki," were commercial successes and appreciated by global audiences. "Jawan," produced by Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, became the highest-grossing Hindi film ever, reaffirming his status as one of the most beloved Indian stars of his generation.

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, stated: “Welcoming a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan in Locarno is a dream come true! The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him. This brave and daring artist has always been willing to challenge himself while remaining true to what his fans all over the world eagerly expect from his films. A true ‘people’s hero’, sophisticated and down to earth, Shah Rukh Khan is a legend of our times.”

The Tribute Program

Shah Rukh Khan will receive the award on the evening of Saturday, August 10, at Piazza Grande. A key film from his career, "Devdas" by Sanjay Leela Bhansali (India, 2002), will be shown during Locarno77. On Sunday, August 11, at 1:30 PM, the public can meet Khan during a panel conversation at the Forum @Spazio Cinema.

The Pardo alla Carriera is supported by Ascona-Locarno Tourism, which promotes tourism in Lake Maggiore and the natural beauty surrounding Locarno. Nestled between lake and mountains, Locarno provides a stunning backdrop for its film festival, blending natural landscapes and cultural celebrations into an immersive experience. As the only major film festival set in nature, attendees can enjoy a 360° cinematic experience against the scenic Ascona-Locarno region.

Previous winners of the Pardo alla Carriera include Francesco Rosi, Claude Goretta, Bruno Ganz, Claudia Cardinale, Johnnie To, Harry Belafonte, Peter-Christian Fueter, Sergio Castellitto, Víctor Erice, Marlen Khutsiev, Bulle Ogier, Mario Adorf, Jane Birkin, Fredi M. Murer, Dante Spinotti, Costa-Gavras, and Tsai Ming-liang (2023).

Shah Rukh Khan – Biography

Born in 1965 in New Delhi, Shah Rukh Khan has been one of Bollywood’s most recognizable faces for over thirty years. Starting in television in the late 1980s, Khan transitioned to feature films with "Deewana" (1992) and soon became a superstar in Indian cinema and a global icon. He has acted in musicals, crime films, historical dramas, and many more genres. In 2002, he founded his production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, a key player in the Hindi-language film industry. He has appeared in over 100 feature films, earning 14 Filmfare Awards, the Padma Shri from the Government of India, and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Légion d’honneur from the French government.

The 77th Locarno Film Festival will take place from August 7 to 17, 2024.