Bajrangi Bhaijaan: It’s a film that never stops giving, says Kabir Khan

Filmmaker Kabir Khan says the love for Bajrangi Bhaijaan, his 2015 film starring superstar Salman Khan, has only grown with each passing year.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which completes 10 years in July this year, features Salman as a simple-minded Hanuman devotee, Pawan, who crosses paths with a mute girl, Munni, from Pakistan after she accidentally strays into India. The film follows his journey to reunite the child, played by Harshali Malhotra, with her parents across the border.

“It’s been 10 years… It’s a film that never stops giving. I’ve just seen love for that film growing with each passing year, and I’m really happy that it continues to receive so much affection from people,” Khan said on Wednesday at the red carpet event of the I View World Film Festival.

The festival, which aims to promote new perspectives on human rights cinema through the lens of gender, marginalities, and contemporary culture, opened with the screening of the anthology film My Melbourne, co-directed by Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Onir, and Rima Das.

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“It’s a fascinating experience because it’s very rare that we get to do this. Usually, we make films on our own, so being able to collaborate with filmmakers and storytellers like Imtiaz, Onir, and Rima was a very enriching experience.

“To be able to discuss ideas, share stories, and then present them to the audience together has been truly unique,” he said.

In My Melbourne, Khan has directed the short film Setara.

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“It’s about a girl from Afghanistan who is a budding cricketer and dreams of playing for the Afghan women’s cricket team. But she has to escape from the Taliban and eventually finds her way to Melbourne, which has become a refuge for the entire Afghan women’s cricket team.

“So, it’s a very positive story about how Melbourne gives them a new home and how, through cricket, she finally realises her dream,” said Khan, who previously directed the sports drama 83, based on the Indian cricket team’s 1983 World Cup victory.

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Organised by Engendered, a transnational arts and human rights organisation, the I View World Film Festival is being held at Travancore Palace and will run until March 16.