Aamir Khan to celebrate 25 years of Lagaan at IFFM event
Actor and producer Aamir Khan will celebrate 25 years of "Lagaan" at a special Melbourne screening on July 9, 2026, kicking off the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne's 17th edition one month before the main festival program runs Aug. 13–23. Khan will officially launch this year's festival celebrations at ACMI cinema alongside the anniversary screening, Variety reported exclusively.
Key Takeaways
- Aamir Khan attends a July 9 "Lagaan" screening at Melbourne's ACMI cinema to mark the film's 25th anniversary.
- The event serves as the IFFM curtain-raiser ahead of the 17th edition running Aug. 13–23.
- Released in 2001, "Lagaan" was the third Indian film nominated for the Oscar then called Best Foreign Language Film.
- Khan will also mark the milestone at the London Indian Film Festival's 17th edition in July in a separate appearance.
- Festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange called "Lagaan" a milestone that continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences worldwide.
When will Aamir Khan celebrate 25 years of Lagaan in Melbourne?
The curtain-raiser is set for July 9, 2026, at ACMI cinema in Melbourne. Khan will attend the special screening and help officially open celebrations for IFFM's 17th edition.
The timing places the event roughly one month before the festival's main programming window. IFFM's full 17th edition runs from Aug. 13 through Aug. 23.
What is the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne curtain-raiser?
The July 9 event is designed to build momentum before IFFM's core slate. Khan's appearance pairs the "Lagaan" anniversary with the festival's official launch for 2026.
Backed by the Government of Victoria, IFFM has hosted major Indian film figures over the years, including Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, A.R. Rahman, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Ram Charan, Vijay Sethupathi, Vicky Kaushal, Vijay Varma and Keerthy Suresh. Filmmakers such as Rajkumar Hirani, Shoojit Sircar, Anjali Menon, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, Zoya Akhtar, Rima Das, Onir and Kabir Khan have also appeared at the event.
The 17th edition will feature an extensive slate of film screenings, premieres, conversations, masterclasses and cultural events. For more festival and screening news, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
Why does Lagaan's 25th anniversary matter?
Released in 2001 and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India" remains one of the most influential titles in Indian cinema history. It was the third Indian film to receive an Academy Award nomination in the category then known as Best Foreign Language Film.
The colonial-era epic is set in a drought-stricken village where farmers facing a punishing land tax challenge occupying British officers to a cricket match. The outcome determines whether the tax is doubled or scrapped entirely. Khan starred alongside Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne.
The milestone is being marked beyond Melbourne. At the London Indian Film Festival's 17th edition in July, Khan is making a separate appearance tied to the "Lagaan" anniversary, according to Variety.
What did the IFFM director say about the celebration?
"The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has always celebrated stories that have made a lasting impact on audiences, and there could not have been a better way to begin our 17th edition than by celebrating 25 years of 'Lagaan,'" festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said.
"The film is a milestone in Indian cinema and continues to inspire generations of filmmakers and audiences around the world. We are delighted to welcome Aamir Khan to Melbourne for this special celebration and look forward to presenting another memorable edition of the festival that brings together the very best of Indian cinema."