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The 54th edition of the esteemed International Film Festival of India (IFFI) wrapped up in style in Goa on Tuesday. At the concluding ceremony, the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon acclaimed American actor Michael Douglas.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented Douglas with the award, and the audiences showed their appreciation with a standing ovation, while Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joined them on stage.
Expressing his humility at becoming part of a prestigious group of past awardees, Michael Douglas acknowledged that Satyajit Ray exemplified the essence of a world-class filmmaker. He remarked that Ray’s movies not only showcased the triumphs of the Indian film industry but also illustrated the potential of cross-cultural artistic expression.
Douglas also highlighted the influential role of cinema as a medium capable of uniting and transforming people. He added, “Today, our global language of cinema is more meaningful than ever.”
When Ayushmann Khurrana enquired about a character of his that left a lasting impact on him, Michael Douglas pointed to Gordon Gekko in Wall Street. “It affected a lot of people on Wall Street who said I was the reason they got involved in it, to which I responded by reminding them that I was the bad guy, the villain in the film.”
When asked about Indian films he has seen, Douglas began with RRR. He noted that Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om is a recurrent favourite at his home and Irrfan Khan’s The Lunchbox holds a special place. Douglas also expressed his good fortune in having watched some of Satyajit Ray’s movies during his college years when he enrolled in a cinema course. He concluded his speech by expressing, “India, mein aapse bohot pyaar karta hun (India, I love you a lot).”
Before the ceremony concluded, renowned Welsh actor and Michael Douglas’ wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, joined Ayushmann and Douglas on stage, where she was honoured by CM Sawant. Mentioning that she hadn’t expected to join Douglas on stage, Jones said, “I wasn’t expecting this. I was very happy to just be a wife. Just a regular, old wife. But what an honour it is to meet you (Ayushman). Michael was genuinely very proud to get this award associated with such an amazing filmmaker.”
“I’d like to just say thank you to India for welcoming us so very much. The one thing that is steadfast is the generosity and welcoming nature and hospitality of all Indians, whether it’s in Goa, Mumbai, New Delhi, or Jaipur. It was just an honour to come back,” she added.
Click for more updates and latest Hollywood News along with Bollywood and Entertainment updates. Also get latest news and top headlines from India and around the World at The Indian Express.
