WATCH: Shah Rukh Khan Honored With Pardo Alla Carriera Award At Locarno Film Festival

Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan was honored with the prestigious Pardo Alla Carriera Award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

The award, recognizing his significant contributions to cinema, was presented during a special ceremony on Saturday. Shah Rukh, who flew to Switzerland to accept the accolade, charmed the audience with his wit and warmth.

Addressing a crowd of approximately 8,000 attendees, Shah Rukh opened his speech with a touch of humor, saying, “Thank you all for welcoming me with such wide arms – wider than the ones I do on screen.”

He went on to express his admiration for the festival’s host city, describing Locarno as “a very beautiful, very cultural, very artistic, and extremely hot city.”

Drawing a playful comparison to the summer heat in his home country, he added, “So many people stuffed up in a little square and so hot. It’s just like being home in India.“

Reflecting on his cinematic journey, Shah Rukh emphasized the profound impact of cinema as an art form. “I truly believe cinema has been the most profound and influential artistic medium of our age,” he remarked.

He shared his insights on the essence of art, stating, “Art is the act of affirming life above all. It goes beyond every man-made boundary into a space of liberation. It need not be political, polemical, or moralizing. Art and cinema only need to express their own truth from the heart. That, to me, is the purest form of creativity.”

Shah Rukh also spoke about the inseparable link between creativity and love, saying, “There is no creativity without love, which transcends all languages and is understood by everyone around the world. Creativity, love, and giving joy are one and the same.“

He concluded his heartfelt speech with a promise to his fans, vowing to continue his pursuit of excellence. “Awards like this encourage me to keep striving, to embody all facets of life, emotions, and to give one more take, one more shot, one more emotion, and hopefully, a little bit of love, so that all of you feel a little joyful,” he said.

The event marked a memorable moment in the festival’s long history, as Shah Rukh Khan added yet another accolade to his illustrious career.