Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Rekha, Pankaj Tripathi Hoist Tricolour, Sing Anthem in Melbourne
India has a special day called Independence Day on August 15 every year.
On this day, people remember when India became a free country.
Two famous movie actors, Rekha and Pankaj Tripathi, celebrated this day far away from India in a city called Melbourne in Australia.
Rekha is a very famous actress and Pankaj Tripathi is a well-known actor too.
They joined many Indian people who live in Melbourne at a big film festival event.
Rekha raised the Indian flag, which is called the Tricolour because it has three colours.
After that, everyone sang the Indian national anthem together.
The actors also made people laugh when Rekha tried to teach Pankaj to speak English.
Pankaj joked that he studied in Hindi and might make mistakes.
It was a happy celebration filled with music, singing and joy.
Veteran actors Rekha and Pankaj Tripathi joined the Indian community in Melbourne to celebrate India's Independence Day.
Rekha hoisted the Indian national flag on August 15 during celebrations organised as part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
The two actors sang the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' along with the crowd after the Tricolour was hoisted.
The event was attended by members of the Indian diaspora, Australian dignitaries, filmmakers, artists and cinema lovers.
In a light-hearted moment, Rekha turned English teacher for Pankaj, who joked that being a Hindi medium student he might say it wrong.
- Who
- Veteran Indian actors Rekha and Pankaj Tripathi, together with members of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne
- What
- Celebrated India's Independence Day by hoisting the Tricolour and singing the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'
- When
- August 15, on India's Independence Day 2026
- Where
- Melbourne, during celebrations organised as part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
- Why
- To celebrate India's Independence Day with the Indian community away from India
- Event
- Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Independence Day celebrations
- Date
- August 15, 2026
- Location
- Melbourne
- National flag hoisted by
- Rekha
- National anthem sung
- Jana Gana Mana
- Attendees
- Indian diaspora, Australian dignitaries, filmmakers, artists and cinema lovers
- Notable moment
- Rekha taught Pankaj Tripathi English phrases in a playful exchange