By Hindustan Times
The 43rd International Film Festival of India took off to a grand start today with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar inaugurating the cinematic extravaganza that celebrates the 100 years of Indian cinema over the following 10 days. Recalling his early connection to cinema and the way his family
skipped meals to shop for movie tickets, the 45-year-old actor said it was incredible that the rustic was celebrating the 100-year-old cinematic legacy at IFFI.
"This international film festival is an occasion to keep in mind what cinema is all about. Let me start by telling what cinema means to me. Cinema means to me emotion, excitement, suspense but most vital what it means to me is family time."
"When I USED TO BE a child every weekend me, my sister, my mom and my dad, we might go without lunch each Saturday of each month in order that at night my family could afford four tickets and 4 samosas and 4 mango stick ice creams," Akshay said.
The 45-year-old actor said it's because of his father that his number of movies largely rely on what the hundreds want.
"Religiously to this date I treat my family on Saturdays but fortunately I HAVEN'T GOT to skip lunch... It's our biggest connection in life. So I owe my entire life's happiness to Indian cinema," Akshay said.
The actor asked the nearly 2000 strong gathering to face silently for a minute to keep in mind his father-in-law Rajesh Khanna, Yash Chopra, Dev Anand, AK Hangal, Ashok Mehta and Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray.
Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi, 73, received a status ovation from the audience as he was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award by Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari.
