JEDDAH: Veteran Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapoor lauded the rise of Saudi cinema and said Bollywood and the Kingdom’s nascent film industry could benefit from close collaboration at an event in Jeddah hosted by the Consulate General of India as part of its association with the Red Sea International Film Festival.

The “What’s Love Got To Do With It” director, who also directed Hollywood icon Cate Blanchett in her 1998 breakout role in “Elizabeth,” attended the “India Night” event in Saudi Arabia that honored Indian-Saudi partnership in the world of cinema.

Kapoor, director of the International Film Festival of India, is heading a delegation from the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the National Film Development Corporation at the film festival in Jeddah.

The consulate, in partnership with the Indian ministry and national corporation, has set up an “India Pavilion” at the Red Sea Souk area as part of the film festival, which runs until Dec. 14.

At the reception held this week, Consul General of India Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri stated that the potential of collaboration between the two countries is “vast and full of promise.”

“The cultural bond between India and Saudi Arabia has flourished over the years, and cinema, as one of the most powerful mediums of storytelling, has played a significant role in deepening this connection,” an official statement added.

Kapoor also highlighted the upcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit to be held in New Delhi in early February and invited industry members from Saudi Arabia and beyond to participate.

A curated cultural performance at the reception showcased India’s rich and diverse heritage, with Indian classical and cinematic dances by artists from the Indian community in Jeddah, as well as performances by artists from India who presented popular compositions from Indian cinema.

Members of the diplomatic community, filmmakers, artists, directions and guests from the Red Sea International Film Festival were in attendance.