Mumbai 21 st January 2026: Ever imagined fans coming together to celebrate a film, not just by watching it again, but by creating a full experience for the makers themselves? Over the past year, Fanmeets, curated by storyteller and cultural curator Laksh Maheshwari, has emerged as a powerful movement, redefining how cinema is celebrated in India. From fans finally meeting their favourite filmmakers to celebrating films through stories, music, performances and heartfelt conversations, Fanmeets has created spaces where creators and audiences reconnect through raw emotion and shared memories.
Within just 12 months, Fanmeets for iconic films such as Tamasha, Laila Majnu, Taare Zameen Par, Raanjhana, and Delhi Belly have taken place with the makers themselves present. Once experienced, Fanmeets become a space people return to, whether as fans or as filmmakers. Aamir Khan, who attended the Taare Zameen Par and Delhi Belly Fanmeets, asked, “Which one are we doing next?” while Shankar Ehsaan Loy shared that they had not witnessed such a soulful celebration by fans in the last 30 years.
At the heart of Fanmeets is Laksh Maheshwari, who rose to popularity through his extraordinary storytelling and digital content under the handle @singlehandedly — a name rooted in his personal journey of living life “single-handedly.” Today, Laksh has built a community more than 6 million hands strong, and Fanmeets reflect this very spirit, creating spaces where filmmakers become fans of their fans. As Imtiaz Ali puts it, “Fanmeets by Laksh has brought a lot of love back to the heart of the makers.”
As Laksh often says, “Fandom unites people. Fandom means selfless love. Fan culture means happiness and hope.” Fanmeets, at its core, is about preserving and honouring fan culture.
The latest and biggest yet: Rockstar Fanmeet
On 16 January, 2026 history was created at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, when 1,000 fans and makers assembled to celebrate Rockstar, marking the largest fan-led film celebration of its kind in India. Curated by Laksh Maheshwari, the Rockstar Fanmeet featured a powerful line-up of performers including Nayab Midha, Onkaar Yadav, Devansh Singh, Shivang & band, Gunjan Saini, and Team Nishani, who presented performances and a never-seen-before exhibition inspired by the film.
The evening was graced by the makers of Rockstar – Imtiaz Ali, Anil Mehta (DOP), ADs Sunaina, Ashima & Tanmay, Rajesh Sharma (Executive Producer), Aki Narula (Costume Designer), and Dileep (Sound Recordist). From inspiring talk sessions for aspiring filmmakers to behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the film, the five-hour-long event maintained peak energy throughout, reminding everyone that the love for cinema is deeply ingrained in who we are.
The highlights of the evening included 1,000 fans singing iconic tracks such as Kun Faya Kun, Nadaan Parindey, and Sadda Haq together; Imtiaz Ali recreating the iconic Sadda Haq pose on stage with Laksh Maheshwari; and Imtiaz walking into the audience to hug a nine-month pregnant fan who attended the event, while also meeting specially abled fans. One emotional moment saw the pregnant fan tell Laksh, “Aap mere Tara ho,” thanking him for making the experience possible.
The makers shared several rare anecdotes, Imtiaz Ali revealed that John Abraham was initially considered for Rockstar, that Pritam was almost finalised for the music before A.R. Rahman’s compositions came to light, and that Ranbir Kapoor narrated the entire film to Imtiaz during their first meeting, making it the first time an actor gave a full narration to a director. Imtiaz rewrote the film based on that narration and immediately asked Ranbir to play the lead.
Anil Mehta spoke about the challenges of shooting a non-linear film, Aki Narula shared insights into creating Jordan’s evolving looks, and the makers revealed that even after pack-up, Ranbir stayed in costume for a long time, unable to come out of the character. As the night concluded, the makers unanimously said, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Reflecting on the experience, Imtiaz Ali shared, “Fanmeets have added shelf life to the work of film-makers. It’s a reconnection that we experience. The way Fanmeets bring stories within the story is incredible. It’s spiritual.”
Sharing his vision, Laksh Maheshwari said, “Celebration of films that have impacted us is very important. 1,000 fans together expressing themselves and giving makers a chance to experience something new from what they have made is our way of saying ‘thank you!”
The Rockstar Fanmeet stands as a landmark moment, not just for its scale, but as a reminder that the love for cinema lives on through the fans who continue to carry its stories forward.
