Making its mark at the box-office worldwide and its screenplay making its way to the Oscar Library, “Happy New Year” has now been invited at the 14th edition of Marrakech International Film Festival.
The Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd.’s film, directed by Farah Khan and starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Boman Irani and Vivaan Shah, has been officially invited in the out-of-competition section at the upcoming festival, that opens Dec 5.
The film will be screened on the Jemaa El Fna Square Dec 6, the day of the Official Royal Dinner hosted by the president of the Festival Foundation, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid. Farah Khan and cast of the film are invited to attend the Official Red Carpet of the evening, said a statement.
Farah, Abhishek, and Boman will represent the team at the festival that will go on till Dec 13.
“We are very happy to screen HNY at the Marrakech International Film Festival. It will be one the highlights of the Festival. Farah Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Boman Irani will introduce the film on the famous Jemaa El Fna Square in front of thousands of people," said Mélita Toscan du Plantier, director of film festival.
“It will be Farah's first time at the Festival as Abhishek came in 2003 and Boman in 2012 for the Tribute to Indian Cinema. It is the only Indian film screened on the Square this year as every night an actor presents a film like Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons, Adel Imam, etc,” the director said.
Toscan du Plantier added that “Shah Rukh Khan has a special relationship with the Marrakech Film Festival and Morocco...He came for a Tribute in 2011 and for the Centenary of Indian Cinema in 2012."
"He was also decorated by HRH Prince Moulay Rachid on behalf of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Each time he has been on the Square, it has been a sea of people coming from all Morocco, who love him very much and hey even sang some of his songs in Hindi. Moroccans have a very special relationship with Bollywood," said the director.
Farah is also excited to grace the event.
“I'm delighted that HNY is being showcased in Marrakech. Marrakech has become a festival of repute n it's an honour to take our film there,” she said in a statement.
Released Oct 24, the film grossed over Rs.350 crore worldwide with more than Rs.200 crore net in India itself.
