Rajamouli elated as 93-year Oscar winner Costa-Gavras watches his films for 8 hours
SS Rajamouli was honoured at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris during a screening session of his films. The moment drew added attention after 93-year-old Oscar-award-winning filmmaker Costa-Gavras stayed for eight hours to watch the films and masterclass.
SS Rajamouli has been honoured with a permanent place at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris, in another milestone for the filmmaker and Indian cinema. The filmmaker's day was made after 93-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker Costa-Gavras stayed for eight hours to watch his films. Rajamouli, whose films, including RRR and the Baahubali franchise have found audiences across the world, was recognised by one of the world’s most respected film institutions in a celebration that was marked by his screenings followed by a masterclass.
The event gained added attention after Costa-Gavras stayed on for nearly eight hours at this age to watch Rajamouli’s films and attend his masterclass. What had been expected to be a brief visit turned into a full-day engagement with Rajamouli’s work, prompting a warm response from the Indian filmmaker and his family.
Rajamouli was given the honour at the Cinematheque Francaise, the film archive founded by Henri Langlois in 1936, which has long celebrated major filmmakers from around the world. The occasion featured screenings of RRR (2022), Eega (2012) and Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) as part of a special retrospective celebrating the worldwide rise of Indian cinema. The event was supported by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Sharing his reaction on X, Rajamouli wrote, “Having me here in Paris and screening my films is itself an honour for me. But a sweet surprise I never saw coming. It is a feeling I cannot fully put into words. To have a permanent place in the halls of one of the world’s most legendary film institutions, named after the great Henri Langlois himself, is something I will carry with me forever.” He added, “My deepest gratitude to the legendary Mr. Costa Gavras and the entire Cinematheque Francaise family for this honour, and for embracing Indian cinema with such warmth and love.”
Among the moments from the celebration, Costa-Gavras’ presence stood out. The French-Greek filmmaker, whose Z (1969) and Missing (1982) are regarded as classics, had initially planned to watch only RRR and return another day for Eega.
Rajamouli’s son, SS Karthikeya, said on X that the Academy Award winner surprised the team by returning with his wife and staying for the rest of the day. “The 93-year-old Academy Award winner and legendary French filmmaker Mr. Costa Gavras came to watch RRR yesterday and told Rajamouli that he’ll come back for Eega tomorrow, skip Baahubali today. But we were surprised - he came today along with his wife and stayed 8 hours straight to watch both films and the masterclass,” Karthikeya wrote.
Karthikeya later added, “These are the moments that inspire us and remind why we are in cinema.”
Rajamouli is currently working on his next project, Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film is expected to release globally in April 2027, as Rajamouli’s latest honour in Paris adds another chapter to his international recognition.
SS Rajamouli has been honoured with a permanent place at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris, in another milestone for the filmmaker and Indian cinema. The filmmaker's day was made after 93-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker Costa-Gavras stayed for eight hours to watch his films. Rajamouli, whose films, including RRR and the Baahubali franchise have found audiences across the world, was recognised by one of the world’s most respected film institutions in a celebration that was marked by his screenings followed by a masterclass.
The event gained added attention after Costa-Gavras stayed on for nearly eight hours at this age to watch Rajamouli’s films and attend his masterclass. What had been expected to be a brief visit turned into a full-day engagement with Rajamouli’s work, prompting a warm response from the Indian filmmaker and his family.
Rajamouli was given the honour at the Cinematheque Francaise, the film archive founded by Henri Langlois in 1936, which has long celebrated major filmmakers from around the world. The occasion featured screenings of RRR (2022), Eega (2012) and Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) as part of a special retrospective celebrating the worldwide rise of Indian cinema. The event was supported by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Sharing his reaction on X, Rajamouli wrote, “Having me here in Paris and screening my films is itself an honour for me. But a sweet surprise I never saw coming. It is a feeling I cannot fully put into words. To have a permanent place in the halls of one of the world’s most legendary film institutions, named after the great Henri Langlois himself, is something I will carry with me forever.” He added, “My deepest gratitude to the legendary Mr. Costa Gavras and the entire Cinematheque Francaise family for this honour, and for embracing Indian cinema with such warmth and love.”
Among the moments from the celebration, Costa-Gavras’ presence stood out. The French-Greek filmmaker, whose Z (1969) and Missing (1982) are regarded as classics, had initially planned to watch only RRR and return another day for Eega.
Rajamouli’s son, SS Karthikeya, said on X that the Academy Award winner surprised the team by returning with his wife and staying for the rest of the day. “The 93-year-old Academy Award winner and legendary French filmmaker Mr. Costa Gavras came to watch RRR yesterday and told Rajamouli that he’ll come back for Eega tomorrow, skip Baahubali today. But we were surprised - he came today along with his wife and stayed 8 hours straight to watch both films and the masterclass,” Karthikeya wrote.
Karthikeya later added, “These are the moments that inspire us and remind why we are in cinema.”
Rajamouli is currently working on his next project, Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film is expected to release globally in April 2027, as Rajamouli’s latest honour in Paris adds another chapter to his international recognition.
