Aamir Khan to donate Rs. 11 lakh to aid Mumbai Film Festival

Mumbai: Bollywood actor-producer Aamir Khan Thursday said he is donating Rs.11 lakh towards supporting the Mumbai Film Festival, which is facing a funds crunch for its forthcoming 16th edition this year. “Hey guys, the Mumbai Film Festival ‘MIFF’ needs our help. I’m donating 11 lakh. It would be really great if all of you came forward and donated as much as you can to make it happen! Thanks. Love. a,” Khan posted on his Facebook and Twitter page. The actor has joined a list of cinephiles who have come forward to save the festival, organised annually by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI). [caption id=“attachment_1697193” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Aamir Khan. AFP.[/caption] MFF director Srinivasan Narayan is glad that the efforts are finding support from actors of Khan’s stature. “We hope all the Khans of Bollywood do the same. We are thankful that Aamir has tweeted about donating the sum and he has also asked others for support. We met his wife Kiran Rao yesterday, but we didn’t know that this (the donation) was coming,” Narayanan told IANS. The organisers are yet to receive the donation, but Narayanan said: “The moment he (Khan) says he’s donating, it’s a commitment.” An online social campaign #pledge4MAMI has helped the MFF organisers gain public attention in their endeavour to raise the required budget of Rs.5 crore for the film extravaganza, scheduled to be held between October 14-21. “We have so far managed to raise around Rs.2 crore. The festival will happen 100 percent, and we’re sure we will be able to manage the rest of the money. We are hoping to raise the amount by Monday (September 8),” he added. IANS