Aamir Khan Heads to Melbourne In August For IFFM 2025
- SAGA Magazine
- Jul 15, 2025
- 4 min read
When the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) returns from August 14 to 24, 2025, all eyes will be on Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. The Bollywood actor, filmmaker, and storyteller is set to headline the 16th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as the official Chief Guest.
It's not just star power that Khan will bring to the festival. This year’s festival promises a deep dive into Khan’s illustrious four-decade career, marked by roles and works that have transformed Indian cinema.
A specially curated retrospective will chart Khan’s journey from his breakthrough in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak through genre-defining hits like Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par, PK, and Dangal. The tribute culminates in an exclusive screening of his latest film, Sitaare Zameen Par, followed by a live discussion featuring Khan, director RS Prasanna, and Aparna Purohit, CEO of Aamir Khan Films.
In a press statement, Aamir Khan said he was thrilled to be part of the festival in Melbourne.
“I’m humbled and thrilled to be a part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. I look forward to engaging with audiences, sharing some of my most cherished work, and being part of conversations that celebrate the power of films. With Sitaare Zameen Par, we’ve tried to tell a story that embraces inclusivity and neurodivergence with sensitivity and heart — and I’m grateful that the film has resonated with so many.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the state was proud to welcome Aamir Khan to the IFFM.
“There’s something for all families to enjoy at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. This year, Victoria is so proud to welcome one of India’s most loved and respected actors - Aamir Khan - and celebrate his body of work. He is not just an icon for millions but is such a strong voice for the values of equality and inclusivity that we treasure here in Victoria.”
IFFM 2025 Nominations: The Contenders
Now celebrating its 16th year, IFFM has become the biggest annual celebration of Indian cinema outside India, supported by the Victorian Government and renowned for its blend of mainstream hits and indie discoveries.
The nominations for IFFM 2025 spotlight a rich field of blockbuster films, indie stand-outs, and streaming sensations.
Best Film
The Best Film category is led by:
Homebound: Neeraj Ghaywan’s poignant drama, which premiered at Cannes, is this year’s critical darling, earning multiple nominations, including Best Director and dual Best Actor (Male) nods for Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa.
Stree 2: The hugely anticipated sequel to the horror-comedy franchise, with standout performances including a Best Actress nomination for Shraddha Kapoor, has also become one of the most-nominated films this year.
Superboys of Malegaon: Another top contender, it brings a unique, spirited view of filmmaking from the grassroots.
The other contenders include the star-studded sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, Malayalam blockbuster L2: Empuraan, Bollywood film Maharaj and the Arvind Swamy-starrer Tamil film Meiyazhagan.
Best Indie Film
In the Best Indie Film category, nominations include Humans in the Loop (Aranya Sahay), Malayalam film Feminichi Fathima (Fasil Muhammed), Baksho Bondi (Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi), Angammal, Boong, Village Rockstars 2, and We Are Faheem and Karun.
Best Actor and Actress
Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa for Homebound lead the Best Actor (Male) nominees. The other nominees in the category include Junaid Khan for his debut film Maharaj, Abhishek Bachchan (I Want to Talk), Malayalam superstar Mohanlal (L2: Empuraan), Adarsh Gourav (Superboys of Malegaon), Gugun Kipgen (Boong), and Manoj Bajpayee (The Fable).
The Best Actor (Female) nominees are veteran actor Sharmila Tagore (Puratawn), Shraddha Kapoor (Stree 2), Kareena Kapoor Khan (The Buckingham Murders), Anjali Sivaraman (Bad Girl), Bhanita Das (Village Rockstars 2), Geetha Kailasam (Angammal), Shamla Hamza (Feminichi Fathima), and Tillotama Shome (Baksho Bondi).
Reema Kagti (Superboys of Malegaon), Neeraj Ghaywan (Homebound), Aranya Sahay (Humans in the Loop), Lakshmipriya Devi (Boong), Onir (We Are Faheem and Karun), Rima Das (Village Rockstars 2), Varsha Bharath (Bad Girls), and Vipin Radhakrishnan (Angammal) lead the nominations in the Best Director category.
Web Series and OTT Recognition
The nominations in the OTT category are limited to platforms available in Australia.
Best Web Series category sees nominations for Black Warrant, Gyaarah Gyaarah, Kota Factory Season 3, Paatal Lok Season 2, Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper, Khauf, Manorathangal, and Thallivattam Palayam.
The Best Actor (Male) for Web Series nominees are Abhishek Kumar (Thalaivettiyaan Paalayam), Ali Fazal (Mirzapur 3), Jaideep Ahlawat (Paatal Lok Season 2), Jitendra Kumar (Kota Factory Season 3), Mammootty (Manorathangal), Manav Kaul (Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper), and Zahaan Kapoor (Black Warrant).
The Best Actor (Female) Web Series category nominees include Ananya Pandey (Call Me Bae), Monika Panwar (Khauf), Nimisha Sajayan (Dabba Cartel), Parvathy Thiruvothu (Manorathangal), Rasika Dugal (Mirzapur 3), Shabana Azmi (Dabba Cartel), and Tillotama Shome (Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper).
The Jury
Celebrated Australian figures such as Garth Davis (director of "Lion") and Nadia Tass (award-winning theatre director and film producer) will decide this year’s winners.
The highly anticipated Awards Night is scheduled for August 15, a traditional highlight in the festival calendar.
Alongside its gala screenings, expect lively debates, film trivia sessions, and culinary explorations at the MIFF Festival Hub.
With over seven days of screenings, celebrity appearances, and cross-continental conversations, IFFM 2025 amplifies Indian cinema’s global reach and cultural connections.
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