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'Queen' wins top honours at IIFA

Kuala Lumpur, June 8, 2015: Vikas Bahl's directorial "Queen" bagged the Best Picture, Best Story and Best Performance in a Leading Role - female awards at the three-day long 16th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards here on Sunday........READ MORE

 

With stars galore, IIFA gets off to rocking start in KL

Kuala Lumpur, June 5, 2015: With stars like Hrithik Roshan, Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Jacqueline Fernandez and veterans like Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher and Subhash Ghai in attendance, the 16th edition of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards kickstarted here on Friday with much fanfare.

The three-day gala began on a business-related note with FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, where Anupam spoke about the Indian cinema and how it's flourishing under the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Hero No. 1" director David Dhawan and filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala were also present at the forum and expressed interest in making films in Malaysia.

What followed was a star-studded opening press conference, graced by Bipasha Basu, Anupam, Anil, Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonakshi, Lauren Gottlieb, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kanika Kapoor, Arjun, Jacqueline and Kainaat Arora. Also present was Ghai, who will be conferred the lifetime achievement award on Sunday.

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"This weekend of IIFA will be the best," Anil said here.

The opener itself gave a glimpse into the fun in store over the weekend. While Ayushmann, who will co-host music extravaganza IIFA Rocks on Friday, sang a few lines of his hit number "Pani da rang" during the conference, the celebrities also shook leg on Arjun's song "Tune maari entriyaan".

Sonakshi, who will croon at IIFA Rocks and will also dance on the awards night, was delighted to visit Malaysia after a long time.

"I was in school when I visited Malaysia and now I am here for IIFA," said the 28-year-old.

Jacqueline got emotional too.

"The last time I joined IIFA was in my home country Sri Lanka and this year, it's at my mother's home country. So, this year is special too. My mother will be in the audience today at IIFA Rocks," said the Sri Lankan beauty.

Established in 2000, IIFA is in Malaysia for the second time. It was held in Genting Highlands in 2002.

Bipasha walked down the memory lane as she took charge of the mike.

"Thirteen years back, I was here for IIFA and I was just a newcomer. It's been a wonderful journey so far," said the "Raaz" star, who shopped a lot and ate good food ever since she reached the Malaysian capital.

While other stars are still expected to arrive and light up the stage, actor Hrithik Roshan was spotted at the venue JW Marriott. He was greeted by excited fans, who yelled at top of their lungs and tried to get a few shots of the Bollywood star.

Hrithik even took to a platform at the Pavilion Mall here to interact with his fans, and give them a sense of excitement and revelry that will unfold over three days of celebration of Hindi cinema.....IANS-(The writer's trip is at the invitation of the IIFA organisers. Natalia Ningthoujam.

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IIFA awards weekend in Kuala Lumpur

The glitz and glamour of Bollywood will be on full display at the 16th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards weekend, starting on Friday, June 5 and ending on Sunday, June 7. It promises to be “larger than life” with a focus on commercial opportunities between host country Malaysia and India.

After travelling to London, Dubai, Macau, Toronto and Singapore, the annually IIFA extravaganza, which celebrates Indian cinema, is heading to Malaysia for the second time for its 16th edition. Established in 2000, the gala was held at Genting Highlands Resort, Malaysia, in 2002 and – if one goes by the buzz – this edition will attract a whole lot of Bollywood fans.

“This edition is coming of age. It will be larger than life. There is also growing support of film industries from international countries for the IIFA movement and that’s important,” said Sabbas Joseph, director, Wizcraft International Entertainment, IIFA organisers.

“We will be promoting Malaysia in a big way. There will be exciting opportunities for tourism... Trade and business opportunities between Malaysia and India are definitely focus for us. Later in the year, the ASEAN Summit will take place (in Malaysia) too; so it is a great building ground for that,” he added.

With delegates expected from various countries like China, Sri Lanka and Thailand, a “white paper will be launched on day one at the business forum where we will talk about the power of film tourism”.

IIFA has seen Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Kevin Spacey and John Travolta gracing the gala in its various editions. But any foreign talent this year has been kept under wraps.

Among those from Bollywood who will light up the stage at the Stadium Putra here on the awards night on June 7 are Hrithik Roshan, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Parineeti Chopra, Shraddha Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Shahid Kapoor. Writer and filmmaker Subhash Ghai will be conferred the lifetime achievement award.

The hosts of the ceremony are actors – and besties – Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, who got into trouble earlier this year after they appeared as the subjects of Indian comedy group AIB’s “Roast” earlier this year.

Another highlight will be the screening of Dil Dhadakne Do on June 5.

“The complete star cast will be in attendance. They will interact with fans and people from the film industry,” said Joseph, about the Zoya Akhtar directorial, starring Anil Kapoor, Ranveer, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Anushka Sharma.

IIFA Rocks, an exclusive music extravaganza hosted by actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra, will see a host of musical performances by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Mika, Ankit Tiwari, Kanika Kapoor, Javed Ali and the Nooran sisters.

Sinha, who will be soon seen as a judge on singing reality show Indian Idol Junior, will also display her singing skills at IIFA Rocks on Friday, June 5.

There will also be a dose of fashion at the Fashion Extravaganza on June 6. Hosted by actors Vivek Oberoi and Neha Dhupia, it will see quirky designs by Masaba Gupta, who will present a line inspired by the IIFA trophy.

“We’ve got Fashion Extravaganza featuring Rocky S, Masaba and Gaurang Shah. There will be different kinds of collections from each of them. Masaba is doing a special collection for IIFA. It is inspired by the trophy ... gold and black. It has the sun graphics also because the IIFA trophy is inspired by the sun,” said Joseph.

With about 800 Indian delegates, consisting of business officials, people from the film industry, dancers and models, flying to Kuala Lumpur for IIFA, Joseph promises that it will offer “different dances, style and more”.... IANS