Making it in Macau for IIFA

Few doubted it when Amitabh Bachchan declared, "Let the magic begin." The Indian film fraternity pulled out all the stops to show the world Indian entertainment at its best at the IIFA awards on Saturday night.

In pictures: IIFA extravaganza

The 15,000-strong audience who waited to see the six-hour-long event were not disappointed. Some stars shed copious tears, some laughed out loud, most applauded, but no one went home disappointed.

The hysteria started way before the event, as fans thronged the kilometre long green carpet to see the actors in their designer outfits up close, which they got to do for almost ninety minutes.

The screaming of the fans had hardly abated when the stars entered The Venetian's Cotai Arena, where they were met with a thunderous applause by those who had bought tickets to the event.

Bachchan started off the ceremony and the audience was treated to stars shaking a leg, breaking into song and mimicking their colleagues.

As is typical of awards shows, hosts Boman Irani, Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh poked fun at all the less successful films and actors.

The trio had had as many as ten costume changes by the time they started their mimicry of Anil Kapoor and his Oscar win, while John Abraham (Goal), Abhishek Bachchan (Drona) and Hrithik Roshan (Jodhaa Akbar) were not spared either.

Roshan won the best actor award, while Priyanka Chopra took the best actress award for Fashion.

Jodhaa Akbar won best film and its director Ashutosh Gowarikar, took the award for best director. The film also won five awards in the technical category. Javed Akhtar nabbed the award for best lyrics, also for Jodhaa Akbar.

Kangana Ranaut got best supporting actress for Fashion and Arjun Rampal for best supporting actor for Rock On!!.

Rajesh Khanna was awarded the lifetime achievement award and was very emotional as he remembered his first hit film.

He said, "This award is for my 40 years of hard work across 160 films, but my first hit film was the most memorable. It was an indication that I was doing the right thing and I was encouraged to do better work."

Hrithik Roshan and Bipasha Basu won the style diva awards, a recent addition to the IIFA awards.

Since the award ceremony in Macau, China, celebrated 10 years of IIFA awards, special awards for actor and actress of the decade were presented. Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan took the honours.

The show also saw tears of joy and tears of accomplishment.

Abhishek Bachchan was very excited with his award for best comic role for the film Dostana.

Having carried a reluctant director Tarun Mansukhani in his arms to the podium, he started his speech on a high note. But then junior Bachchan became emotional when he attributed his comic timing to his father.

He said, "I saw Amitabh Bachchan in Amar, Akbar Anthony and I was very much moved to act like him."

With the tears came the performances and audiences saw three new debutantes take to the stage.

Anoushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor and Jackky Bhagnani made their first stage performances to songs from their films.

Indian stars came to Macau and conquered hearts and gathered fans, making India's films popular to a whole new audience.

And with a brand ambassador like Amitabh Bachchan, this award ceremony spread the magic of Bollywood.