Bollywood Star Rekha to Attend Saudi Film Fest for Rare 'Umrao Jaan' Screening

Bollywood superstar Rekha is scheduled to attend the upcoming fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for a special screening of her classic 1981 film "Umrao Jaan." The film, which earned Rekha the Indian National Film Award for her performance as a courtesan-poetess in 19th-century Lucknow, has been freshly restored by the National Film Development Corporation-National Film Archive of India.

This marks the first time "Umrao Jaan" will be shown outside of India. Rekha has expressed her profound connection to the character, stating that the film is "intrinsically woven into the very fabric" of her soul. The festival's Treasures strand will also feature Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 psychological thriller "Spellbound," further highlighting the prestigious nature of this screening.

In a separate development, the Italian indie film "Trifole," a movie about truffle-hunting, is set to receive a rare U.S. theatrical release, marking a breakthrough for Italian independent cinema in the American market.