Rekha hoists flag, teaches Pankaj Tripathi to greet crowd in English in Melbourne; Kangana Ranaut, Akshay Kumar celebrate Independence Day 2026

On the occasion of India's 80th Independence Day, several Bollywood and South Indian celebrities, including Kangana Ranaut, Allu Arjun, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Kajol and others, took to social media to share heartfelt wishes with their fans and celebrate the spirit of the nation.

Akshay Kumar shared a message on X, writing, "Hamare tirange ki shaan yun hi bani rahe, har dil mein ummeed aur har aankh mein ek behtar kal ka sapna rahe. Aap sabhi ko Swatantrata Divas ki hardik Shubhakamnaen. Jai Hind!" He wished for the pride of the Tricolour to remain strong, with hope in every heart and dreams of a better tomorrow.

Kangana Ranaut shared a video on her Instagram Story in which she was seen with the Indian Flag. The actress and BJP MP used the song 'Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyaara Hai' in the post.

Suniel Shetty also extended his Independence Day wishes, writing on X, "Every time the Tiranga goes up, the heart somehow stands a little taller. Happy Independence Day... Always proud. Always grateful. Jai Hind!"

Kajol expressed gratitude to the armed forces and paid tribute to the personnel who protect the country. "Looking at the world today I have a heart filled with gratitude for the people who have made it possible for us to say Happy Independence Day," she wrote, saluting the Navy, Air Force and Army personnel and ending her message with "Jai Hind".

Actor Prakash Raj, known for his outspoken posts on social media, also shared an Independence Day message on X in his own distinctive style, combining political commentary, humour and a wish for the younger generation.

Meanwhile, Rekha hoisted the Indian National Flag in Melbourne, after which she and Pankaj Tripathi sang the National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', marking the special occasion. The moment was shared by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) on Instagram and served as a tribute to India's National Flag and the spirit of the country.

The veteran actress and actor also shared a fun moment ahead of their appearance at IFFM, with Rekha turning English teacher for Pankaj Tripathi. In a video shared by IFFM, Rekha asked Pankaj to repeat an English line after her for a message to the people of Melbourne. When she corrected him and asked him to say it in English, Pankaj humorously replied, "Ma'am, main Hindi medium ka chatra hun, galat bol dunga."

The two eventually delivered the message together, wishing the people of Melbourne and ending with "Jai Hind".

Rekha is in Melbourne for the screening of her 1981 classic 'Umrao Jaan' at IFFM. Directed by Muzaffar Ali and based on Mirza Hadi Ruswa's 1899 Urdu novel 'Umrao Jaan Ada', the period musical drama features Rekha in the titular role of a Lucknow tawaif and poet.

The film received four honours at the 29th National Film Awards, including Best Actress for Rekha. The veteran actress will also receive the prestigious Excellence in Cinema Award at the festival for her contribution to Indian cinema.

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will conclude on August 23.