by Satinder Mohan
After Shekhar Kapoor, who was the festival director for 55th and 56th IFFI, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has appointed Ashutosh Gowariker as the Festival Director for 57th IFFI , which is going to be held from 20th to 28th November 2026 in Goa. Gowariker is a well-known director, actor, screenwriter and film producer.
Gowariker served as chairperson of the International Jury at the 55th International Film Festival of India held from 20 November to 28 November 2024. The acclaimed filmmaker has received numerous prestigious honours throughout his career for directing landmark Hindi films like Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar. He won the National Film award for Lagaan as the “Best film providing wholesome Entertainment in 2002.This award was shared with Amir khan. Lagaan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 74th Academy Awards, which makes him a voting member of the Academy Awards. Besides, he won many industry awards such as, Filmfare Award, IIFA Awards, Zee cine Awards and Screen awards for Lagaan and Jodha Akbar in various categories such as , Best Film, Best Director and Best story.
Gowariker started his career as an actor, making his debut in 1984 in director Ketan Mehta’s movie Holi. The 1993 movie Pehla Nasha marked Gowariker’s directorial debut. His second movie was Baazi (1995) which, starred Aamir Khan.
” It gives me immense pride and joy to serve as the Festival Director. I feel privileged to have witnessed the evolution of this festival. From attending it in 1984 to continuing my association over the years, right up to 2024, when I served as the Jury Chairperson for the International Film festival, said the film-maker in a statement.
