Subhash Ghai brought Aamir Khan, Hema Malini, Imtiaz Ali and Jyoti Deshpande together to celebrate the impact of big-screen cinema at Whistling Woods International’s Celebrate Cinema 2026. Held over three days, the festival featured candid conversations, panel discussions, masterclasses and workshops, with leading industry voices sharing their experiences and perspectives with aspiring filmmakers and cinephiles.
The festival attracted a footfall of over 2,000 attendees.
During his interaction with Subhash Ghai, Aamir Khan reflected on his early days in the film industry and his admiration for the filmmaker. Recalling how he had drawn up a list of directors he aspired to work with when he was new to the industry, Aamir said, “When I was new to the industry, I had made a list of directors I wanted to work with, and Subhash ji’s name was right at the top.”
In a deeply personal moment, Hema Malini announced a special scholarship in association with Subhash Ghai in memory of the late Dharmendra, honouring his enduring legacy and contribution to Indian cinema.
Imtiaz Ali shared insights into the nuances of filmmaking and the craft of storytelling, offering cinephiles and students a glimpse into the creative decisions that shape a film.
The festival also featured a session on bringing Indian big-screen cinema to audiences, with Jyoti Deshpande, President of Jio Studios and producer of Dhurandhar, Sanjay Pisharody from Warner Bros Discovery, in conversation with Chaitanya Chinchlikar and Shony Panjikaran from Sony Pictures, in conversation with Rahul Puri.
The programme extended beyond the headline sessions to include a diverse range of industry voices and experiences. Rana Daggubati, Komal Nahta, Sriram Raghavan and Siddharth Roy Kapur were among the personalities featured in the festival’s wider line-up, while Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal participated in a meet-and-greet with attendees.
With its mix of candid conversations, industry insights and hands-on learning, Celebrate Cinema 2026 concluded as a celebration of the people, ideas and creative processes that shape Indian cinema.
