Dulquer Salmaan And Rishab Shetty Open IFFM 2026 In Style

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne opened its 17th edition the way it usually does, by getting nearly every corner of the industry into one room. The August 13 press conference brought together stars, directors and musicians from across India's film industries to mark the start of this year's festival.

The Opening Day Lineup

Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan and Vijay Varma headlined the gathering, joined by Manushi Chhillar, singer Nikhita Gandhi and Dolly Singh. Filmmakers Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad and R.S. Prasanna were also present, alongside the cast of Lala and Poppy, making the opening press conference less a single film's promotional stop and more a cross section of what Indian cinema currently looks like across languages and formats.

Rishab Shetty On Representing Kannada Cinema

Shetty spoke about attending the festival specifically as a representative of Kannada cinema, calling it a source of pride to see the industry recognised on an international stage alongside the rest of Indian film. He said, “I feel proud to be here,” adding that being surrounded by representatives from across the Indian film industry made the moment feel bigger than any single film's presence at the festival.

Dulquer Salmaan On Lokah's Global Journey

For Dulquer Salmaan, the visit marked his first trip to Australia, and he chose to frame it around Lokah, his film blending Kerala folklore with a superhero narrative. He pointed to how far the film has already travelled internationally, saying its reach has gone beyond what the team originally expected, a reflection of how far regional Indian cinema is now able to move once it finds the right platform.

Why IFFM Keeps Growing

What stood out about this year's opening was how little of it centred on a single blockbuster or a single language. Between Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi cinema all represented on the same stage, alongside music and design talent, the festival's opening conference read less like a red carpet and more like a working snapshot of where Indian storytelling currently stands internationally, spanning regional identity, global distribution and cross industry collaboration all at once.

Quick Facts

• Event: 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)

• Opening Date: August 13, 2026

• Key Attendees: Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar, Nikhita Gandhi, Dolly Singh

• Filmmakers Present: Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad, R.S. Prasanna

• Notable Mention: Dulquer Salmaan's Lokah, blending Kerala folklore with a superhero story

FAQs

Who attended the IFFM 2026 opening press conference?

The opening press conference included Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar, singer Nikhita Gandhi, Dolly Singh, and several filmmakers including Nikkhil Advani and Kaizad Gustad.

What did Rishab Shetty say about attending IFFM?

Shetty said he was proud to represent Kannada cinema at the festival and welcomed the international recognition the industry is receiving.

What film did Dulquer Salmaan discuss at IFFM?

Dulquer Salmaan spoke about Lokah, a film combining Kerala folklore with a superhero story, and its unexpectedly wide international reach.

When did the 17th edition of IFFM begin?

The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne opened on August 13, 2026, with a star-studded press conference.