The 45th International Film Festival of India begins in Goa on Thursday where mega-star of Indian cinema Amitabh Bachchan will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony.
Southern superstar Rajinikanth, the guest of honour, will be given the centenary award for Indian Film Personality of the year.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore will also be present at the function.
For the first time the festival will be inaugurated at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium at Bambolim, about eight kilometers from Panaji.