We will miss Amitabh Bachchan at IIFA: Anil Kapoor

Mumbai, March 4 – Anil Kapoor says he will miss his colleague and Bollwyood megastar Amitabh Bachchan at the upcoming 12th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards.

 

After an association of more than a decade, Amitabh has ceased to be IIFA brand ambassador. 

“We will definitely miss Mr. Bachchan because he is in the psyche of the people all over the world who like cinema. He is in our blood stream. He is a huge star and we will definitely miss him. His absence will be felt,” Anil told reporters here Friday.

Big B has been IIFA brand Ambassdor since 2000, when it was conceptualised and launched.

This year the organiser, Wizcraft Entertainment, has scrapped the concept of having a brand ambassador. Now IIFA will go ahead with the new concept – Friends of IIFA – where no one person will be the face of the mega event.

“I’m glad that IIFA started this concept because we are a family and its important that at a global platform we all should come together and not just as a single person,” said Kareena Kapoor.

Added Karan Johar: “This concept of friends of IIFA works both ways, emotionally and structurally.”

IIFA to hold Raj Kapoor film festival

Mumbai, March 4 – The 12th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend, to be held in Toronto this year, will organise a Raj Kapoor retrospect.
 

“I have been part of IIFA since 12 years now and for the last four years I have been performing consecutively. But this year is going to be more special to me because Wizcraft and IIFA are having a Raj Kapoor retrospect,” Kareena, grand-daughter of Raj Kapoor, told reporters here Friday.

“It’s going to be very special and emotional. I’m very excited about that than anything else because Raj Kapoor was not only my grandfather but a man, who defined Hindi cinema,” she added.

The IIFA weekend will be held across the cities of Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and Markham in the Greater Toronto Area from June 23-25.

Filmmaker Karan Johar, who is also the advisory board member of IIFA, said the retrospect will be held in association with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

“TIFF is a great platform that has supported Hollywood and world cinema for many years. Recently, its association with Hindi cinema has been tremendous and now it brings the golden era man Raj Kapoor on the surface of the Hollywood industry. It’s a great idea which is supported by IIFA,” said Karan.

Apart from this, the three-day show will feature world premiere of a select films, an awards gala, a fashion show and other interactive events.

The IIFA in Canada to be promoted by Khiladi Akshay Kumar

Feb 26, Toronto: After a rupture in the alliance of megastar Amitabh Bachchan with the organisers of IIFA, the organisers of IIFA is looking for a new brand ambassador. Mr. Bachchan was the face of IIFA for more than a decade. Bachchan missed the IIFA weekend which was held in Sri Lanka the last year. And this resulted in the rift between Amitabh and IIFA. 

This year IIFA will be held in Toronto, Canada. And the organisers of IIFA are seriously thinking about Khiladi Akshay Kumar, to be made the new face. He will be promoting the event in Canada this time. But, no final decision has yet been made, about who should be the IIFA brand ambassador. 

International Indian Film Academy, popularly known as IIFA, helps in promoting Indian cinema worldwide, to reach out to the millions of fans. Its spearheaded by Wizcraft International Entertainment Ltd. Acclaimed as the “Oscars Of Bollywood”, it has successfully showcased the treasures of Indian film. IIFA has travelled through London, Malaysia, Johannesburg, Yorkshire, Thailand, Colombo, and many other places. 

Akki is overjoyed to get a chance of promoting IIFA in Canada. He has got a huge number of fans there. He expressed that Canada is a very charming place, and he even suggests his directors and producers to shoot in Canada. Canadians love Bollywood movies and bollywood stars are very popular over there.

However, Salman is also considered by IIFA as the star who can be the face of IIFA, besides Akshay.