Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan virtually attended the inaugural event of the Kolkata International Film Festival. Shah Rukh is also the brand ambassador of West Bengal. The ceremony was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. SRK wished good luck to people in the entertainment industry. "We have to try and make our families happier. Whatever we do should be for our family and the country. We have been blessed by god. We can say a lot of good things through our films," the actor said.

“Nomoskar Shak Rukh, bhalo acho toh?,” were Mamata Banerjee’s first words to the actor. “Haan ami bhalo achi, ekdum accha,” he responded. The actor apologised for not being able to be there physically due to the pandemic. He has been attending the film festival since 2011. “Mera bohat dil kar raha hai ki main wahan par hota. But all I can say from here is that I love you all and I miss Bengal. Mamata di, I miss you and miss hugging you. Inshallah when I come next time jo bohat hi jald hoga, do-chaar extra hugs le lunga aapse,” the actor said while addressing.

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The seven-day festival will commence by paying tribute to two greats -- auteur Satyajit Ray on his birth centenary, and iconic Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee, who died of post-COVID complications in November last year.

"Together we will overcome this pandemic. But the show must go on. We are going ahead with #KIFF 2021 virtually, on a smaller scale. Glad that my brother Shah Rukh Khan will join us virtually at the inaugural event on Jan 8, 4pm," Banerjee had said on Twitter.