Amitabh Bachchan said the IIFA weekend was not just an awards function but an occasion to build bridges with people from various walks of life.
MUMBAI: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday said the annual International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend was not just an awards function but an occasion to build bridges with people from various walks of life.
Addressing a press conference to announce the details of the IIFA weekend activities beginning in Bangkok from June six, Bachchan, who is IIFA brand ambassador, said IIFA for him has been a journey of commitment and desire to take Indian content outside the country's shores.
The event for the last eight years has been an opportunity to build bridges with the host country with Indian cinema which brings together people from film, fashion and business fields across the globe, he said.
"One sees an integration of communities inside a cinema hall. We do not bother to see who is sitting besides us in the darkness of a cinema hall. We are all one enjoying and experiencing different kinds of emotions unfolding on the screen," Bachchan said.
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, whose "Sarkar Raj" will be premiered at the IIFA weekend in Bangkok, said his new film was complex in terms of story-telling unlike the first "Sarkar" which was a simple story of revenge. "Sarkar Raj" is not a sequel and does not take off from where 'Sarkar' ended.
"This film deals with completely new set of situations," he said.
Sabbas Joseph, Director of Wizcraft, which organises the IIFA weekend, said the performers at the IIFA awards include Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Govinda.
Sabbas said the performances have been designed to showcase films that are to be released shortly. Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja will showcase their film "Love Story 2050", Aftab Shivdasani, Riteish Deshmukh and Ayesha Takia willperform to promote their film "De Tali" .
The "Mission Istanbul" cast Zayed Khan, Vivek Oberoi and Shriya Saran will also perform. Similarly, there will also be performances from Dia Mirza, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea and Aftab Shivdasani from their recently launched film "Acid Factory".
The FICCI IIF global busienss forum will be attended by heavyweights from Thailand and Indian business fraternity. The primary objective of the forum is to enhance the India-Thailand partnership through opportunities in investment, trade, infrastructure, real estate, gems and jewellery among others, Sabbas said.
IIFA has chosen to honour Nobel peace prize laureate and climate change scientist Dr Rajendra Pachauri with the IIFA global leadership award.
Filmmaker Karan Johar will host the IIFA Fashion extravaganza which will feature some of the most high profile Indian designers.
Sabbas said IIFA had contributed immensely in boosting tourism, trade and commerce, film exchanges between India and the host country in the last eight years.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}