
Vir Das to be honoured at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will return for its 16th edition in 2025. The festival will showcase Indian cinema with screenings and masterclasses. Vir Das will be honoured for his contributions to entertainment. He will also debut as a director with Happy Patel. The festival aims to connect cultures through cinema.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), the largest celebration of
Indian cinema
outside India, returns for its 16th edition from August 14–24. The festival will feature an exciting mix of screenings, premieres, masterclasses, and star-studded appearances across Melbourne.
Among the key highlights this year is the honouring comedian and actor
Vir Das
for his significant contributions to Indian entertainment and his global impact. 'It's incredibly humbling to be recognised by IFFM, a festival that celebrates the diversity and strength of Indian storytelling,' said Das.
IFFM 2025 continues its mission of bridging cultures through cinema, drawing the Indian diaspora and Australian audiences into a shared celebration of creativity, community, and compelling narratives.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Standard
18 minutes ago
- Business Standard
NBA and Skechers collaborate to launch season two of Hoop Nation Docuseries in India
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 27: The National Basketball Association (NBA) in collaboration with Skechers, a global performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel brand, today announced the launch of the second season of 'Hoop Nation,' a four-part lyrical docuseries showcasing inspiring basketball stories from across India. Skechers is serving as Presenting Partner of the docuseries, which is available now on the NBA India YouTube channel (@NBAIndiaOfficial) along with accompanying music videos. Four-Part Lyrical Docuseries on the NBA India YouTube Channel Features Inspiring Basketball Stories from Across the Country Through New-Age Indian Hip-Hop. Building on the success of its first season, Hoop Nation season two tells the stories of Ishrat Akhter, an international wheelchair basketball player from Baramulla, Kashmir; Deepak P. Babu, a passionate fan, mentor and content creator from Alappuzha, Kerala; the Lao family, a father-daughter duo from Kolkata's Indo-Chinese community; and Farooque Shaikh, a dedicated mentor from Mumbai's Nagpada neighborhood. Each player wears innovative Skechers Basketball shoes designed for 'Comfort that Performs®'. The second season of Hoop Nation features new-age Indian hip-hop artists driving the storytelling: Straight Outta Srinagar (SOS), the talented duo at the forefront of Kashmir's underground music scene; ThirumaLi, a powerhouse in the Malayalam hip-hop community; EPR Iyer, a seasoned voice from Kolkata and a pioneer in the Indian hip-hop movement; and QK, a rising star from Mumbai known for her unique fusion of rapping and singing. Through their powerful, original lyrics and beats, these artists showcase the challenges and triumphs of players, fans and coaches from Alappuzha, Kashmir, Kolkata and Mumbai who have used basketball to shape their communities and inspire the next generation of athletes. "Hoop Nation season two embodies the spirit of basketball in India - a game that unites, inspires, and drives change," said NBA Asia Head of Strategy and NBA India Country Head, Rajah Chaudhry. "Skechers shares the NBA's goal of growing basketball in India and providing fans and players across the country with more opportunities to engage with the league and the game. With Hoop Nation season two, we are bringing authentic stories of resilience and passion to the forefront and engaging the growing Indian basketball community in a new and creative way." "At Skechers, we believe in the transformative power of sport to inspire communities and drive long-term impact," said Rahul Vira, CEO of Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd. "Our continued association with the NBA through initiatives like Hoop Nation and the ACG Jr. NBA program highlights our commitment to fostering the growth of basketball in India at every level. Our roster of elite NBA pros like Joel Embiid and Julius Randle have brought the 'Comfort That Performs' of Skechers Basketball to their game. At the same time, we're empowering the next generation of Indian players by providing them with innovative, high-performance footwear and apparel that will help them dominate on the court. This collaboration supports our mission to amplify local talent, elevate authentic stories, and take the development of basketball to the next level across the country." Skechers also served as the official kit partner of the ACG Jr. NBA program, a nationwide 3v3 tournament for the top U-14 players across India and the largest school-based basketball program in the country, which reached more than 4,000 youth from more than 500 schools across India last year. This collaboration across original content and grassroot development continues an ongoing first-of-its-kind association for Skechers in the region. NBA fans in India can follow the NBA on Facebook ( Instagram (@NBAIndia and @NBAStyle_in for everything style related), X (@NBAIndia) and download the NBA App for the latest news, updates, scores, stats, schedules, videos and more.


India.com
19 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet actress whose last film came 6 years ago, yet manages to beat Deepika, Alia, charges Rs 30 crore per film, net worth is..., she is...
This actress began her journey like many others, but her path soon stood out. With each performance, she didn't just impress, she made people pause and take notice. While her charm and skill earned her a solid place in Bollywood, her presence wasn't limited to just one industry or country. Slowly, she stepped beyond borders, capturing attention worldwide with her grace, confidence, and unique choices. Today, she stands as a symbol of strength and global appeal, an actress who doesn't need constant headlines to prove her worth, because her work and aura speak louder than words ever could. One Of The Finest Actresses In Industry: Priyanka Chopra Here we are talking about actress Priyanka Chopra, who is best known for giving many iconic performances in different genres. The actress is all set to return after six years to the big screen on a giant level with Baahubali fame director SS Rajamouli's most anticipated project, 'SSMB 29.' As per reports from Bollywood Hungama, Priyanka requested Rs 30 crore for her role, setting a new record for Indian actresses. A source mentioned, 'It took some time to finalize her for the project because she was not willing to reduce her fee.' The source added, 'And why should she? If male actors can earn double-digit salaries, why can't women?' Priyanka Chopra Becomes Highest Paid Actress Interestingly, this is not the highest amount Priyanka has received for a project. She was reportedly paid $5 million (over Rs 41 crore) for her Amazon Prime Video series 'Citadel,' which was considered reasonable due to its six-hour length. However, the Rs 30 crore she is getting for the Mahesh Babu starrer makes her the highest-paid female actress in Indian cinema. Previously, Deepika Padukone held the title of highest-paid actress, earning Rs 20 crore for her role in 'Kalki 2898 AD.' Alia Bhatt, on the other hand, is said to charge around Rs 15 crore per film, while Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu earn Rs 10 crore or more per project. As per Money Control, Priyanka Chopra's net worth is around Rs 583 crores, while Nick Jonas' net worth is around Rs 666 crores. Apart from being an actress, she also has a production company, Purple Pebble Pictures, which made the Oscar-nominated film 'The White Tiger.' She has also developed a strong investment front, including stake in dating app Bumble, which she introduced to India.


India.com
19 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet beautiful wives of star cricketers, as glamorous as any Bollywood actresses, they are...
In this collection of pictures we shall take at the photos of beautiful wives of star cricketers who are as glamorous as any Bollywood actresses. Let's dive in. England's star wicketkeeper batter Jos Buttler's wife Louise Buttler looks no less than an angel. Louise is a fitness trainer by profession. West Indies star all-rounder Andre Russell's wife Jassym Lora, a model by profession, also fits the parameters of beauty and fitness. Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah's anchor wife Sanjana Ganesan is not only very fit but also very beautiful. England Test Cricket Team captain Ben Stokes' wife Clare Ratcliffe is also beautiful, glamorous and fit. Indian cricketer Shardul Thakur's wife Mittali Parulkar gives tough competition to everyone in terms of beauty and she also seems to be far ahead in terms of fitness. Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan's wife Umme Ahmed Shishir is also as glamorous as any Bollywood actresses. Australian star batter Travis Head's wife Jessica Head is also very beautiful and a fitness freak. Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali's wife Samiya Arzoo who is from India is also included in this list, she also an example of beauty and fit. Indian batsman Manish Pandey's wife Ashrita Shetty also meets this criterion. She is an actress and known for her beauty.