IFFM 2026 Nominations: Aamir Khan, Mammootty and Rishab Shetty Lead the Pack

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has unveiled its 2026 nominations, with three of Indian cinema's biggest names — Aamir Khan, Mammootty, and Rishab Shetty — among the top contenders for acting honours. The announcement underscores a broader trend: IFFM is no longer a Bollywood-exclusive affair, with Malayalam and Kannada cinema firmly in the conversation.

Mammootty and Rishab Shetty's presence in the nominations is particularly significant. Mammootty has been on an extraordinary late-career run, while Rishab Shetty rode the massive success of the Kantara franchise to become one of Indian cinema's most talked-about figures. Their nominations alongside Aamir Khan — known for his selective, high-stakes projects — makes this one of the most competitive IFFM fields in recent memory.

IFFM, held annually in Melbourne, Australia, has steadily grown in stature as a platform that celebrates Indian films for global audiences. It often serves as a bellwether for which performances and productions have resonated beyond domestic box-office metrics, lending the nominations a prestige beyond the awards circuit alone.

With the nominations now public, attention turns to the eventual winners and whether the ceremony will reinforce the momentum of pan-Indian cinema or see Bollywood reassert its dominance. For Indian film lovers both at home and in the Indian diaspora, the IFFM results are eagerly watched.