The pink city of Jaipur is all set to host a grand celebration of Indian regional cinema as the 14th edition of the Rajasthan Film Festival (RFF) returns on September 26. The prestigious ceremony will be held at the Deep Smriti Auditorium, located in Mansarovar, Jaipur. This annual event aims to celebrate and honor exceptional cinematic works, actors, directors, and skilled technicians from diverse language industries across the country who contribute significantly to the Indian entertainment landscape.
Bollywood Stars Sharman Joshi and Esha Koppikhar to Turn Hosts
A major highlight of this year's gala evening will be the starlight brought by Bollywood personalities Sharman Joshi and Esha Koppikhar, who will be hosting the ceremony together for the first time on the RFF stage. Sharman Joshi is widely celebrated for his memorable roles in blockbuster films like '3 Idiots', 'Rang De Basanti', and 'Golmaal'. Joining him as co-host is Esha Koppikhar, who has left her mark on both Hindi and South Indian cinema. Affectionately known as the 'Khallas Girl', Esha has delivered acclaimed performances in popular movies such as 'Company', 'Kaante', 'Dil Ka Rishta', and 'Aamdani Athanni Kharcha Rupaiya'.
A Journey from Local Roots to a Pan-Indian Regional Cinema Platform
Inaugurated in 2013, the festival originally began as an initiative dedicated to nurturing Rajasthani cinema and offering local artists a stage to gain national recognition. Over the years, this initiative enabled numerous talents from Rajasthan to successfully establish their careers in Bollywood. A significant turning point arrived in 2019 when the festival expanded its horizon to embrace regional cinema from across all Indian states. Operating under the guiding ethos of 'Nai Soch, Nai Disha' (New Thought, New Direction), RFF has grown into a collaborative platform connecting diverse cultural stories and regional filmmakers. Over its decade-plus journey, the event has attracted more than 100,000 live audience members while reaching over 300 million people via social media networks.
A Legacy of Bollywood Personalities Attending the Gala
Over the years, the Rajasthan Film Festival stage has welcomed a stellar lineup of Indian film industry stalwarts. Luminary figures who have graced previous editions include veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, actors Jeetendra, Govinda, filmmaker Subhash Ghai, late actor Satish Kaushik, along with Bhagyashree, Chunky Panday, Arbaaz Khan, Neha Dhupia, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Mahima Chaudhry, Aftab Shivdasani, and Daisy Shah. The upcoming 14th edition promises to build upon this star-studded legacy with the vibrant hosting duo of Sharman Joshi and Esha Koppikhar.
Interactive Discussions and Lifetime Achievement Awards
A day prior to the main awards ceremony, an interactive dialogue session will be organized featuring artists and filmmakers from different regions. This forum will facilitate deep discussions regarding state heritage, cultural traditions, folk narratives, and the operational challenges facing regional cinema today. Furthermore, the festival will bestow the Lifetime Achievement Award upon distinguished veterans for their enduring contributions to Indian cinema. Past recipients of this high honor include actor Shakti Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, actor Sanjay Mishra, Grammy Award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and music director Dilip Sen. Engaging live musical performances will also remain a central attraction of the celebration.
