Shah Rukh Khan reigns supreme at Locarno Film Festival

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan mesmerised the crowd at the Locarno Film Festival's 77th edition, held in the picturesque Swiss town's iconic Piazza Grande.

On Saturday night, Khan was bestowed with the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera award for his lifetime achievements.

The 8,000-strong audience, along with fans gathered around the square, gave him a thunderous welcome, erupting into applause and cheers as he arrived on the red carpet and greeted Locarno's artistic director, Giona A. Nazzaro.

The electric atmosphere was palpable as Khan's presence lit up the big screen.

As the clock struck 10, a highlight reel of King Khan's films played on the big screen, eliciting continuous cheers and enthusiastic reactions from the audience.

Moments later, Khan took the stage, where he was greeted with a frenzy of applause, screams of "I love you!", and cheers.

Upon receiving the honourary Golden Leopard award from Giona A. Nazzaro, Khan expressed his gratitude, saying, "He [Nazarro] gave me this, and it's very heavy."

He also thanked the evening's host, Sandy Altermatt, drawing laughter from the crowd. Khan then addressed the audience, saying, "I'm so happy to be in Locarno, in a square full of people... I'm honoured to be in Locarno, a very beautiful, very cultural, very artistic and extremely hot city with so many people stuffed up in a little square and so hot." 

With a chuckle, he added, "It's just like being home in India."

He also thanked the crowd, saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you all for welcoming me with such wide arms — wider than the ones I do onscreen.”

He stretched out his arms to cheers. And he added: “I love you all.”

On a more serious note, the mega-star said: “I truly believe cinema has been the most profound and influential artistic medium of our age. I’ve had the privilege of being part of this for many years, and this journey has taught me a few lessons I’d like to share with you.”

Among them was, “that art is the act of affirming life above all.”

The festival is showing Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2002 popular film Devdas, which stars Khan as an alcoholic, as part of its Locarno tribute.