Shekhar Kapur: A Life with Elizabeth

Director: Shekhar Kapur

A rare opportunity to hear the erudite views of Shekhar Kapur, best known globally for Oscar nominated Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett, with the third film in the series being planned. Shekhar Kapur trained as a chartered accountant in London at the behest of his parents, but later bucked middle- class tradition by becoming an actor in Mumbai with the film Jaan Hazir Hai (1975). Switching to a directorial role Shekhar came to prominence with films like Masoom (1983) and his greatest Indian hit Mr India (1987), one of the most-loved Bollywood films of all time, with Amrish Puri as the timeless villain Mogambo! Unlike most other successful Indian directors who have remained fixed within the Bollywood canon, Shekhar jumped into the global frame with Channel Four’s hit film Bandit Queen (1994), introducing Seema Biswas to the world as a groundbreaking female desperado. Kapur continues to work tirelessly in film and television from Bollywood to LA.

Shekhar Kapur will be presented with the Sun Mark Ltd LIFF Icon Award© for his outstanding contribution to cinema.