It was Shah Rukh all the way at IFFI opening

Actor takes a dig at the BCCI in his inaugural speech

MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan was the cynosure of all eyes at the International Film Festival of India which kicked off in Goa on Friday.

The star was in his elements while taking a dig at his latest detractors, the BCCI. "I want to welcome everyone here," he started off, naming all the dignitaries on the stage and added, "I also want to make a special mention here of all those who play cricket. You see, when I go to watch cricket matches, they think I am promoting my films, so now that I am on a film platform, let me promote cricket," he said to spontaneous laughter from the audience.

SRK was clearly the big draw at what would otherwise have been a staid opening ceremony. "There are so many good filmmakers in the audience, and I wish they would cast me in their films. Of course I am a commercial actor who has sold his soul to flippant story-telling. Also this morning, they have declared me as the sexiest man in Asia, so there goes my last chance of doing serious cinema," he quipped.

Hours before the ceremony got underway, the locals had lined the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh. I&B Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, in his speech, was quick to remind the actor that it was "these ordinary people are the ones who make icons, and this festival owes allegiance to them".

The minister also said the government would soon convene a plenary session in Mumbai to form a draft policy on piracy.

The 10-day festival has over 200 films from 20 different countries. It kicked off with Romanian film Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days. The fest will also have a Pakistani film — Khuda Ke Liye — for the first time.