Subhash Ghai is turning Whistling Woods International into Bollywood’s most star-studded classroom this week. The filmmaker has announced the Celebrate Cinema Festival 2026, running October 7, 8 and 9 at his film school, bringing together Aamir Khan, Hema Malini, Rana Daggubati and Imtiaz Ali for three days of conversations around craft, stardom and storytelling.
The lineup gives each day its own marquee session. Aamir Khan opens the festival on October 7 with a conversation around Sitaare Zameen Par; October 8 belongs to Hema Malini, who will pay a special tribute to the late Dharmendra, alongside Telugu star Rana Daggubati; and Imtiaz Ali closes on October 9 with a session on his recent film Main Vaapas Aaunga. Ghai announced the festival on Instagram, saying he will personally interact with 2,000 students and aspiring filmmakers across the three days.
The festival is a rare crossover of stardom and cinema scholarship — and the second day’s Dharmendra tribute is expected to be the emotional centerpiece. For fans and students alike, it is a front-row seat to the people behind some of Indian cinema’s most recognisable stories.
