Tuesday, December 16, 2025
    ADVT 
    Bollywood

    PICS: Bollywood Set To ‘Stomp', ‘Rock' New York With IIFA Show

    Radhika Bhirani IANS, 12 Jul, 2017 12:29 PM
    • PICS: Bollywood Set To ‘Stomp', ‘Rock' New York With IIFA Show

    At a time when Hollywood is incubating diverse talent like never before, Bollywood is out to mesmerise the US with its magic at the three-day IIFA Weekend and Awards starting here on Thursday.

     

    The "green carpet" is being rolled out and some film stars have already landed here for the 18th edition of the gala, which also goes beyond the Hindi film industry's glitz and glamour to push discussions around tourism, business opportunities and environment.

     

    'We are set. When somebody does a big movie and it's their Friday... You know what it's like. So for us, Thursday onwards our show starts and we are all nervous. But New York is going to rock," Andre Timmins, Director, Wizcraft International, told IANS.

     

    The company has been the producers and creator of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) that had its debut event at the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, Britain, in 2000.

     

    It was organised with a meagre budget of Rs 20 lakh, but after travelling to 15 locations across 12 countries and 4 continents, the event has grown in size and scale considerably.

     
     

    This is the first time that the event will be held in New York -- described as the city that never sleeps. The IIFA show was first brought to US at Tampa Bay, Florida in 2014.

     

    Jeffrey R. Sexton, the Minister Counsellor for Public Affairs at US Embassy in India, said here: "Films from India now do more business than any other non-English films in the US... It's also interesting that the Indian entertainment industry has come to the US as a destination for shooting films."

     
     

    He said in the coming month they looked forward to welcome more and more Bollywood filmmakers and stars for IIFA and beyond, adding that over the last five years, the number of Indian visitors in the US had "nearly doubled".

     

    Last year, he said, there were over a million Indian travellers to US, where Indian actors like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Anupam Kher and Irrfan Khan have made a mark in recent years.

     
     

    "But India is a country of over a billion people, and I know that there are a lot more potential travellers," he added.

     

    At IIFA show this year, stars like Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Shahid Kapoor, A.R. Rahman, Diljit Dosanjh, Sushant Singh Rajput, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan, Dia Mirza, Preity Zinta and Hrithik Roshan will be seen, along with IIFA Awards hosts Karan Johar and Saif Ali Khan.

     

    "There will be a bit of Hollywood too," Timmins said, without divulging any names. But given that celebrities like Kevin Spacey, Angelina Jolie, John Travolta and Hilary Swank have attended past IIFA editions, one can expect some popular names to be there.

     

    Prior to the main event on Saturday at the grand MetLife Stadium -- which has hosted the Super Bowl and concerts of the likes of Coldplay and Paul McCartney -- there's lots planned.

     

    "MetLife is the Rolls Royce of arenas in the world, and we are the first Indian event to go to MetLife," Timmins said, adding that they are expecting a crowd of at least 40,000.

     

    "We have already sold about 30,000 tickets," he said.

     
     

    On Thursday evening, the famous Times Square will come alive with a IIFA Stomp -- a "free for public party" at the 45th and 46th street where Indian DJs -- and perhaps Varun Dhawan -- will play Bollywood beats and some 'desi' fashion will be showcased at a ramp.

     

    "It's going to be a welcome party to New York," Timmins said, adding that simultaneously a Shuruaat Gala Dinner, where people from from Bollywood, and leaders from business, philanthropy, media, education and the Arts will congregate to raise awareness for women empowerment, gender equality, clean water and sanitation issues.

     

    On the following day, the Asia Society Auditorium will host the Ficci-IIFA Global Business Forum 2017, which will see powerful minds coming together to address global issues.

     

    "Our business forum is pretty heavyweight this time," said Timmins, who hopes to see names like Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the United Nations, and US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in attendance.

     

    For Friday evening, there's IIFA Rocks -- a musical gala at the MetLife Stadium, featuring the Oscar winning composer Rahman performing live to celebrate his 25th anniversary in filmdom.

     
     

    "We have a great orchestra from New York, and our own band... I think it's going to be special," said Rahman. Apart from him, Diljit and Kamaal Khan will also dazzle at the musical extravaganza.

     

    The final day will culminate with the awards ceremony, where a plethora of Bollywood stars -- and hopefully some Hollywood ones too -- will rock the green carpet and the stage thereafter.

     

    What makes IIFA different this year is that it will be aired live.

     
     

    "Like we wake up for the and Grammy, this year, we can wake up for the IIFA Awards," said Sabbas Joseph, Director, Wizraft International Entertainment.

     
     
     
     
     
    Prev Next

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    'Are You Comfortable In Bed' Bollywood Newcomer Ashish Bisht Recalls Casting Couch Experience

    'Are You Comfortable In Bed' Bollywood Newcomer Ashish Bisht Recalls Casting Couch Experience
    Casting couch still exists, says the debutante whose first film "Shab" is releasing on Friday, and who claims experiencing it first hand.

    'Are You Comfortable In Bed' Bollywood Newcomer Ashish Bisht Recalls Casting Couch Experience

    Is Deepika Padukone The One Who Tennis Legend Novak Djokovic Wants To Date?

    Is Deepika Padukone The One Who Tennis Legend Novak Djokovic Wants To Date?
    Novak Djokovic's ex girlfriend Natasa Bekvalac claims that he would be much happier dating Bollywood's leading lady Deepika Padukone and the pictures of Novak and Deepika from 2016 have been breaking the internet ever since. 

    Is Deepika Padukone The One Who Tennis Legend Novak Djokovic Wants To Date?

    Bajrangi Bhaijaan Fame Alka Kaushal And Her Mother Sent To Jail For Two Years For Bounced Cheque

    Bajrangi Bhaijaan Fame Alka Kaushal And Her Mother Sent To Jail For Two Years For Bounced Cheque
    Alka Kaushal, a popular TV actor who was also seen as Kareena Kapoor Khan’s mother in Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Kangana Ranaut’s mother in Queen, has been sent to jail in a cheque bounce case. 

    Bajrangi Bhaijaan Fame Alka Kaushal And Her Mother Sent To Jail For Two Years For Bounced Cheque

    Actor Vikram Chatterjee Sent To 14 Days Judicial Remand

    A court here on Monday sent actor Vikram Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the death of model Sonika Chauhan in a car accident, to 14 days judicial custody.

    Actor Vikram Chatterjee Sent To 14 Days Judicial Remand

    Not Fearful Of Mistakes: Ranbir Kapoor

    Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, who plays an innocent and intelligent boy in his upcoming film "Jagga Jasoos", says people usually lose their innocence in the process of experiencing life, but he has a way to keep his inner child alive and so, doesn't fear making mistakes.

    Not Fearful Of Mistakes: Ranbir Kapoor

    Geeta Phogat To Take Only Two-Child Oath

    Geeta Phogat, Indias first Commonwealth Games wrestling gold medallist, will on Monday take an oath to have not more than two children as part of a campaign for the two-child policy in the country.

    Geeta Phogat To Take Only Two-Child Oath

    PrevNext