SPECIAL HONOURS FOR KAMAL HAASAN, RITEISH DESHMUKH AND GENELIA D’SOUZA AND MANISH MALHOTRA AT IIFA 2023
SPECIAL HONOURS FOR KAMAL HAASAN, RITEISH DESHMUKH AND GENELIA D’SOUZA AND MANISH MALHOTRA AT IIFA 2023
KAMAL HAASAN WILL BE FELICITATED FOR ‘OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN
INDIAN CINEMA’
‘OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT IN REGIONAL CINEMA’ FOR RITEISH DESHMUKH AND GENELIA D’SOUZA
DESIGNER
MANISH MALHOTRA WILL BE HONOURED FOR ‘OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN FASHION IN
CINEMA’
After a spectacular show last year, expectations
are sky-high as the 2023 NEXA IIFA Awards and Sobha Reality IIFA Rocks return
to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on May 26 and 27. Over the next three days, the
audience packing the Etihad Arena will get to witness several live performances
by some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan,
Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Jacqueline Fernandez, Rakul Preet Singh and
Nora Fatehi at the main awards, hosted by Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky
Kaushal. Rappers Badshaah and Raftaar,
lyricist-composer Amit Trivedi, EDM producer Nucleya and singers Sunidhi
Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Anusha Mani, Mika, Sukhbir Singh and Goldie Sohel will
be taking centre stage at IIFA Rocks, which will be hosted by Farah Khan and
Rajkummar Rao.
The winners
of the nine technical award categories will also be announced, and awards in 12
popular categories will be given out in addition to the music and dance
performances. There are also three
additional special awards.
Taghrid AlSaeed, Executive Director of Group Communications and
Destination Marketing, Miral, also believes that the
partnership with IIFA will strengthen the bonds between India, Abu Dhabi and
the United Arab Emirates (UAE): “It will give a boost to trade, tourism and
film production opportunities with Yas Island reinforcing its claim as the
fast-growing global entertainment and leisure destination, as well as an
international events hub.
His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al-Geziry, Director General for Tourism at
DCT, Abu Dhabi, points out that, “With an annual gala that is talked about in
amazement and wonders for the rest of the year, IIFA has established its mark
on the international arena. A galaxy of Bollywood stars will make a beeline for
Yas Island next weekend because of IIFA's ability to promote the Indian film
industry around the world. This provides us the chance, for the
second year in a row, to honour the greatest in talent, glamour, and
glamour while showcasing Abu Dhabi's thrilling nightlife, incredible cultural
experiences, and restorative getaways to the world.
Kamal Haasan will be felicitated for ‘Outstanding Achievement in
Indian Cinema’ while the made-for-each-other couple, Riteish Deshmukh and
Genelia D’Souza, for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Regional Cinema’. Designer
Manish Malhotra will also be honoured for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Fashion
in Cinema”.
Kamal Haasan, 68, began his career as a child
artist, at the age of six, in the 1960 Tamil film Kalathur
Kannamma, bagging the President’s Gold Medal. He won the first of his
four National Awards for his performance as a school teacher whose selfless
devotion to a young woman suffering from retrograde amnesia leaves him
heartbroken in the 1982 Tamil film, Moondram Pirai, which was
remade three years later in Hindi as Sadma.
Over the years, he has distinguished himself as an
actor, filmmaker, screenplay writer, playback singer and TV host, working in
not just Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam
films, but also in the Hindi and Bengali
industries. Recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan,
Kamal Haasan is one of Indian cinema’s living legends.
Reacting to the honour, the
maverick genius informs that he has enjoyed a decade-long relationship with
IIFA. “I made my debut appearance in Singapore in 2012 when I unveiled the
first look of my film, Vishwaroopam. That was pretty special. So, at
this one, I will be walking the Green Carpet at Abu Dhabi, humbled by an honour
that speaks of the overwhelming love of my audience which urges me to keep
making films.”
Riteish Deshmukh flagged off a successful career as
an actor with the 2003 romantic drama, Tujhe Meri Kasam. Genelia
was his leading lady and they went on to pair up for Masti and Tere
Naal Love Ho Gaya, before tying the knot on February 3, 2012. A year
later, Riteish launched his own production house, Mumbai Film Company, with the
comedy-drama Balak Palak, which won plenty of awards and
accolades.
In 2014, Riteish made his debut in Marathi cinema
as an actor, in a double role in Lai Bhaari. Genelia, who also
co-produced the action-drama, made a cameo appearance. The film was a
blockbuster.
Three years later, the couple produced Faster
Fene. With Amey Wagh playing the titular character created by Bhaskar
Ramchandra Bhagwat and a favourite with children, the crime thriller enjoyed a
successful run.
In 2018, Genelia produced Mauli which
had Riteish in a double role again, playing twin brothers who share the same
name. Two years later, he made a special appearance in Adrushya and
in 2022, Genelia produced Ved, a romantic drama that reunited them
on screen, with Riteish playing her husband. The film was written by
Riteish and marked
his directorial debut. It was the highest-grossing
Marathi film of the year, and the third-highest Marathi grosser of all time,
surpassing his own Lai Bhaari.
Elated with the IIFA special
award, Riteish says, “Since I am a Maharashtrian and my roots run deep, I have
always wanted to not just act, produce and direct Marathi films, but also push
the envelope with respect to content and technical virtuosity. This honour
proves that I’ve been successful in my experiments and endeavours to extend the
boundaries, as far as Marathi cinema is concerned. I’m grateful to my baiko,
Genelia, without whose support this journey would not have been possible.”
An upbeat Genelia adds, “Riteish
has been a part of my film journey since day one. So, it feels great to go up on
stage and receive an award that is both a validation and a celebration for us.
IIFA, here we come again!”
Fashion designer Manish Malhotra has been an
integral part of the Hindi film industry for 33 years. He introduced the
concept of styling in costume design in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1995 musical
romance, Rangeela, and since then, has flagged off many new
trends, both on-screen and off it.
In 2005, the stylist-entrepreneur launched his
eponymous label, Manish Malhotra, and today has three
flagship stores in Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad. His first international
boutique is coming up at the Dubai Mall this year.
Manish has also expanded into verticals, like jewellery,
and even has his own beauty line. One of the key highlights this year is a
fashion show at Sobha Realty IIFA Rocks with Manish showcasing an exclusive
“old world charm meets the new world” collection.
Recalling
his first appearance at IIFA in 2001, when he received the Best Costume Award
for Mohabbatein, Manish says, “The special honour this year shows
just how far I have come. A lot has changed since, what hasn’t is the love of
the audience which even after three decades continues to drive me to
revolutionize and redefine fashion in films.”
Sobha IIFA Weekend and NEXA Awards is partnered
by Miral and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu
Dhabi. NEXA continues as the title sponsor for the seventh consecutive
edition and this year they are joined for the first time by Sobha Realty as the
title sponsor of the IIFA Weekend.
Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer,
Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “NEXA has
always been at the forefront of innovations and Curating Impeccable Experiences
that not only Impress but Inspire. By foraying into the fields of Fashion,
Music and Journeys, NEXA has successfully created and inspired multiple unique
experiences for its
customers. It is for this very reason that NEXA has
collaborated with IIFA, which is a platform to recognize India’s top creative
talent in the world of
cinema and celebrate the best in cinema arts. The
association is in its 7th year and both NEXA and IIFA are challenging the
status quo to create experiences that are unique and inspiring. With IIFA, we
have a perfect association as we share a common vision of creating global
experiences, which has established the premium imagery of both brands. We look forward
to IIFA 2023 which will be held at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi to inspire our
new-age consumers who seek global experiences in their
everyday lives."
Echoing his sentiments, Ravi
Menon, Co-Chairman of Sobha Realty, reiterates, “We are delighted to be
the title sponsors of the 23rd edition of IIFA Weekend. The event will witness
the presence of the who’s who of the Indian film industry with the glitz and
glamour that makes Indian cinema widely popular. With a rich culture of
performing arts in our nation itself, we are honoured to recognize and
celebrate the long-standing allure of Indian cinema and its outstanding
contributors. Indian films are watched across the world, and we are pleased to
welcome the numerous actors, artists, and talents of our nation, further
bringing Indian cinema to a global audience. IIFA Awards recognizes the highest
quality and artistic expressions in the Indian film sector, just like we at
Sobha Realty recognize the value of quality, art, and design in our work.”
ABOUT IIFA (INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM ACADEMY)
IIFA is dedicated to building bridges across
cinemas, businesses, communities and nations, creating everyone’s dream: “One
People. One World”. IIFA is the most appreciated South Asian film academy and a
global platform that gives the Indian film fraternity an opportunity to reach
audiences in international territories. The alliances made via the platform of
IIFA provide huge benefits and gain to India and an equally important objective
is to create similar benefits in the host country. The aim is to establish a
system of mutual benefit to both India as well as the host destinations by
boosting tourism, economic development, trade, culture, cross-border
investments and film co-productions. The IIFA Weekend & Awards each year
travel to new, exciting and beautiful destinations, taking the film fraternity
to unite and celebrate the best of Indian film and culture, thereby taking
Indian Cinema and India to a wider audience. www.iifa.com
ABOUT MIRAL
Miral is Abu Dhabi’s creator of destinations,
uniting people and places through unique, immersive and exciting experiences.
Responsible for the development and management of Yas Island, Miral’s assets
encompass entertainment, hospitality, leisure, sport, dining and retail
destinations. Today, Yas Island is home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas
Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, Yas Links
Golf Course, Yas Mall, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Marina and eight hotels,
including Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island located on Yas Bay, the soon to be Abu
Dhabi’s premier waterfront destination. For more information, visit
http://www.miral.ae
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM – ABU
DHABI
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
(DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and
tourism sectors and its creative industries, fueling economic progress and
helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in
partnership with the organizations that define DCT Abu Dhabi’s position as a
leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem
around a shared vision of DCT Abu Dhabi’s potential, coordinate effort and
investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and
systems to support the culture, tourism and creative industries. DCT Abu
Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We
work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and
unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality,
pioneering initiatives and creative thought.
For more information about DCT Abu Dhabi and the
destination, please visit tcaabudhabi.ae and visitabudhabi.ae.
ABOUT YAS ISLAND
Yas Island is one of the world’s fastest-growing
leisure and entertainment destinations, located on the golden shores of Abu
Dhabi - just 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai. Yas
Island offers holiday makers a diverse mix of award-winning leisure and
entertainment experiences, from one-of-a-kind theme parks, world-class shopping
and superb dining, to a links golf course, exciting water and motor sports, and
spectacular musical, entertainment and family events all within the 25 sq km
Island. Today, Yas Island is home to the award-winning theme parks Ferrari
World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the
record-breaking CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit (home to the FORMULA 1
ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX™), Yas Marina, the award-winning Yas Links
golf course, as well as Abu Dhabi’s largest mall, Yas Mall. With hotels,
including W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, Crowne Plaza
Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Yas Island Rotana, Centro Yas Island by Rotana, Radisson
Blu Hotel Abu Dhabi Yas Island, Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Abu Dhabi Yas Island
and Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island, plus more than 165 dining
experiences, the destination also features indoor and outdoor concert venues
including WHITE and Etihad Arena - all of which are complemented by a range of
visitor services that connect all attractions to one another.
FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT
● IIFA Website www.iifa.com
● IIFA social media handles:
● Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iifa
● Twitter - https://twitter.com/iifa
● Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IIFA/
For further queries, contact: Wizspk
Communications |PR iifa@wizspk.com