Despite #MeToo allegations, Rajkumar Hirani joins the jury for Shanghai International Film Festival

Bollywood’s one of the most celebrated filmmakers, Rajkumar Hirani has been named as a jury member for this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival despite being called out in the ongoing #MeToo movement in India. The allegation are yet to be proven against him, and therefor it would be unfair to leave him out of such a prestigious film festival’s jury panel. The film festival brings prominent names from across the globe on the esteemed panel and Hirani would now be one of them.

The director who has given the film industry some of the classic projects including the globally acclaimed ‘Munnbhai MBBS’, ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’, ‘3 Idiots’, ‘PK’ and ‘Sanju’ will be on the jury panel alongside Italian director Paolo Genovese and Chinese actress Zhao. They join the previously announced jury president, 2014 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Nuri Bilge Ceylan, the Turkish director behind last year’s ‘The Wild Pear Tree’.

Joining Hirani in judging the 22nd SIFF Golden Goblet Award will also be Russia’s Aleksey German Jr. (‘Dovlatov’), Mexican producer Nicolas Celis (‘Roma’) and Chinese actor Wang Jingchun (Wang Xiaoshuai’s Berlin-premiering ‘So Long, My Son’).

With a popularity base for his projects across the borders in Asian markets like China, Hirani is definitely one name who has taken India on the global map for cinema and has created a mark with his artistry. Receiving accolades for his recent movie ‘Sanju’, Rajkumar has received wide appreciation and is still fondly celebrated for his movies like ‘3 Idiots’ by the Chinese audience.

Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is the only competitive film festival in China approved by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. Adhering to its principles of promoting the development of the Chinese film industry, and the exchange and cooperation between Chinese and foreign film industries, Shanghai International Film Festival looks at promoting the country’s rising filmmaking talent and has become a ground where India is leading the list of jury panelists with Rajkumar as the frontrunner.

Consecutive with his presence at coveted panels, Rajkumar Hirani was also recently announced as a jury President for the Malaysia International Film Festival. It’s quite an honour for the ace filmmaker.

Also Read: #MeToo accused Rajkumar Hirani meets an ailing Rishi Kapoor in the US

Prateek Sur

Born a Movie Buff, working as a Film Critique and enjoying life as a Bollywood Reporter.

Email: editor@bollywoodbubble.com Phone: +91 8355910465