Kapil Dev invited as guest of honour at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has been invited as the guest of honour for the 2022 edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). According to news agency ANI, the organisers said that the event will be held both in-person and virtually from August 12-20.

Kapil Dev, whose journey as a cricketer has been chronicled in Kabir Khan's '83, starring Ranveer Singh, said that he is looking forward to the festival.

In a statement, the former cricketer said, 'It's a great platform celebrating the best in Indian cinema. I truly do believe that sports and cinema are two major cultural experiences for not only Indians but various communities and countries that bind us together. It's something for decades now that has united people.'

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'It's a deep-rooted emotional connection and love we have for both cinema and sports, and when they come together it's a rewarding experience for everyone,' he added.

This year over 100 films in 23 languages have reportedly been selected for the festival and a few Indian film artists are likely to fly down to Melbourne for the event.