BUZZThe 3 Idiots sweeps IIFA Awards

Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots swept the 11th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards that concluded with much fanfare in Colombo recently, despite the absence of Bollywood’s megastars like the Bachchan family and Shah Rukh Khan. However, the Roshan family turned up in full force, from Hrithik Roshan’s filmmaker maternal grandfather J. Om Prakash, his dad Rakesh and mum Pinky, and even the hunky star’s wife Suzanne and sister Sunaina.

The glitzy and glamourous awards ceremony also had Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu flying the Bollywood flag with comperes Lara Dutta, Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh once again enthralling the audience with their excellent chemistry on the extravagant sets. Naturally, there were high points like Hrithik Roshan’s mindblowing livewire performance when he not only danced, but wowed the audience by singing as well.

And of course, forgettable moments like Bipasha Basu’s performance.

The three-day event saw a fashion extravaganza, a live musical event and even a charity cricket match where, needless to say, the Sangakkara XI knocked out the two Bollywood teams led by Suneil Shetty and Hrithik Roshan.

But it was the grand finale that stole the show with its extravagance and glamour, a true setting for Bollywood’s best to be publicly acknowledged for their talent.

3 Idiots created history by becoming one of the most successful films in Hindi cinema, carrying away 11 trophies, including Best Film, Best Director (Rajkumar Hirani) and Best Actress (Kareena Kapoor).

Kareena shared the award with Vidya Balan for her role as a single mother in Paa

Mega heart on Big B

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was deeply moved when a group of people, including a little boy, lined up along a road in Gujarat with bouquets in the wee hours of the morning to catch a glimpse of him. He was in Gujarat to shoot for a tourismpromotion campaign, but couldn’t stop to acknowledge his fans because of the entire contingent of cars moving with him at the time. But the superstar set up a meeting with the same group the next day as he drove to Diu to catch a flight back to Mumbai.

“It was the look on the face of the little boy holding the bouquet of flowers at 5 in the morning that moved me. This is the group of fans from a nearby resort Amidhara that had put up the banner outside their facility on the drive from where I was to pass,” Bachchan wrote on his blog.

“I felt that our driving away was so inconsiderate to the boy, who must have had so much expectancy as he stood their waiting for me to acknowledge him,” he said. The Big B stopped at their resort, apologised for his behaviour to them, took some pictures and autographs and then drove away, satisfied that he was able to assuage his guilt at ignoring the party.

“All is well that ends well and I am happy that it did,” he said in his blog. Which goes to prove that Amitabh Bachchan’s heart is certainly as big as his mega star status.

De-glam Katrina rocks in Raajneeti

Katrina Kaif has proved that she is more than just a glam doll, as the actress earned rave reviews for her role of a politician in Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti. Katrina, who is seen in a de-glam role in the film, has won praise for her acting prowess, said reviews of the film.

Sanjay Dutt, Bollywood’s affable Munnabhai, walked away with the Best Comic Actor for All The Best, while Boman Irani received the Best Actor in a Negative Role award for his brilliant portrayal of an eccentric professor in 3 Idiots Other award winners were: Sharman Joshi, Best Supporting Actor, 3 Idiots Divya Dutta, Best Supporting Actress,

Talking about her performance in the film, acclaimed critic Taran Adarsh said, “Katrina Kaif is first-rate. The sincerity and earnestness shows in every sequence. She sheds her glam doll image and transforms into an actor with this film.”

“Katrina has often been synonymous with

Pritam Chakraborty, Best Music Director Award, Love Aaj Kal

Swanand Kirkire, Best Lyrics Award, 3 Idiots candy floss roles but with Raajneeti she is out to prove that she is here for the acting. In the film she plays a character whose life changes dramatically and she handles it well. Additionally, her beauty doesn’t overshadow her performance,” said a trade analyst.

In the special award category, well-known Hindi filmmaker J. Om Prakash who made films like Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Aasha (1980) Aas Paas (1981), was honoured for his outstanding contribution to cinema. The award was presented to him by proud grandson Hrithik Roshan.

Versatile actor Anil Kapoor was honoured for outstanding achievement by an Indian in international cinema, mainly for his powerful Slumdog Millionaire. And yesteryears’ glamour girl Zeenat Aman was honoured for her outstanding achievement in Indian cinema.

While Bollywood macho man Salman Khan was given the Habitat for Humanity award, his not-so-good friend Vivek Oberoi, was honoured with the Panasonic Global Green award.

The first look of movies like Dabaang, Lamhaa and Knockout were also showcased at the event, as was a sneak peek into the multi-million project Kingdom of Dreams - a mega entertainment destination slated to open in Gurgaon in Mumbai, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in October.

It was an event with song, dance and all the trappings that make for glamour and excitement. There were impromptu performances galore, like Salman Khan, Govinda and Anil Kapoor singing on stage and getting the audience to join in as well. Despite unsavoury controversies surrounding the Awards and their venue in particular, the event showcased Bollywood in all its glory. Kudos to the IIFA for pulling it off!

The 25-year-old beauty, who has delivered

Reluctant

GUESS WHO ?

(Find the answer under Caption Contest) a string of hits playing the urban young woman in films like Namaste London, Singh is Kinng and Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani has silenced her critics with her performance in the new film.

“Katrina’s popularity is soaring by the day. Often topping polls of beauty and sex appeal her contemporaries have much to worry about since she just proved her acting prowess,” the analyst added.

Shot in Bhopal, Raajneeti is the story of a fiercely fought election campaign where money power and corruption are the accepted norms and where treachery and manipulation are routinely used weapons. And it isn’t just Katrina who’s walking away with accolades. Co-star Arjun Rampal has also been swarmed with compliments for his role of a conniving politician in the film. Many from Bollywood, including Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Rishi Kapoor, Shekhar Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, have congratulated him for getting rave reviews.

The actor, who recently received a National Award for his supporting role in Rock On!, is on cloud nine, and says he is “humbled and touched”.

So that’s two more from the glamour gang who have proved that they can actually act. Well done, Rajneeti!

Sherlyn snubs Playboy

Bollywood item girl Sherlyn Chopra has cited reasons for not accepting the offer from Playboy magazine and said that she is not at all comfortable with frontal nudity.

“Bob, the magazine’s chief photographer, saw my pictures on the net and approached me but I had to refuse it because the shoot involved frontal nudity and I am not comfortable with it,” said Sherlyn in an interview. Recently, Sherlyn had posted a nude picture of hers on Twitter. According to her, it was to get feedback from her fans. “I wanted to get feedback from my fans. Most of them posted that I shouldn’t be doing something like this as it is against our culture,” said Sherlyn. Well, I guess Twitter’s as good as Playboy, so keep those pictures coming, Sheryln!

Comfortable with both hats

Irrfan Khan, who is not only a popular actor but also one of the biggest Bollywood actors in Hollywood, says that he is as comfortable in Hollywood as in Bollywood.

“As actors, we all need change, we can’t deal with similar stories and do the same things. Also, the way of telling a story should be different so that it enhances your acting capabilities,” Khan said in an interview.

“I am comfortable with both sides of the entertainment industry - Hollywood and Bollywood. All I want to do is things from different parts of the world,” he added.

Irrfan will soon be seen in Knockout, directed by Mani Shankar and also starring Sanjay Dutt and Kangana Ranaut. Knockout is supposed to be based on the 2003 Hollywood flick Phone Booth but the actor denies it saying that the movie is very contemporary and is based on reality which is very relevant in today’s world. “It is going to be an explosive movie that will touch some reality issues,” said Khan.

The 48-year-old actor has worked in movies like Haasil, Rog, New York and Maqbool among many others. He became a prominent Indian face in the international film circuit as well after he featured in movies like A Mighty Heart and Slumdog Millionaire He is also working in Jennifer Chambers Lynch’s Hisss

The actor at present is shooting for the American television show In Treatment but says that working in Bollywood movies is a different experience altogether.