Photos: Amitabh Bachchan inaugurates the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival; Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in attendance

The 23^rd Kolkata International Film Festival was inaugurated today by Amitabh Bachchan in a gala ceremony organized by the West Bengal government. Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Mahesh Bhatt and Kamal Haasan were also present during the lamp-lighting ceremony.

The film festival will feature 143 different films from 53 countries. "As many as 13 films from Britain will be shown during the festival while six films of acclaimed English filmmaker Michael Winterbottom will be screened as part of retrospective," KIFF Director Yadab Mandal told a news agency.

Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starred in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham together and were seen in an upbeat mood at the inaugural ceremony.

"I have promised that I will keep on learning Bangla. My Bengali has to get better. This is my new attempt with eight lines. Please bear with me. Let me get this right because by next year I have to do it without reading it off a paper," Shah Rukh said attired in a tuxedo at the KIFF inaugural.

On the work front, Amitabh Bachchan is currently shooting for 102 Not Out and Thugs of Hindostan. He will also be a part of Ayan Mukerji’s next, Brahmastra with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Shah Rukh Khan is  working on Aanand L. Rai’s directorial co-starring Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. Kajol will be reuniting with husband Ajay Devgn for Pradeep Sarkar's next. Kajol will be playing a single parent as the story revolves around a mother-son relationship.