After a gap of four years, Bollywood’s most influential clan The Bachchans are likely to return to Macau to take part in the International Indian Film Academy Awards celebrations. Billed as Bollywood’s answer to the Oscars, the three-day celebrations will be held from July 4-6 at the palatial The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Abhishek Bachchan announced at press conference in India on Tuesday.
It’s the second time that the island is playing host to the annual travelling awards show. “I experienced the IIFA celebrations at The Venetian Macao in 2009 and it was a spectacular three-day celebration of Indian cinema. We trust that IIFA will plan their celebrations this year befitting the 100 years of our industry,” said Bachchan in a statement. According to sources, Bachchan Jr -- with hits such as Bol Bachchan and Dostana -- under his belt will perform at this year’s awards extravaganza.
It’s the first time since the infamous Bachchan boycott in 2010 that a member of the Indian acting dynasty is attending an IIFA-related event. Ever since its inception, the Bachchans were prominent players in IIFA proceedings, with family elder Amitabh Bachchan being the brand ambassador for IIFA for ten years. They reportedly had a fallout in 2010 when IIFA organisers reportedly chose not to consider Bachchan senior’s request to move the venue from Sri Lanka after protests from Tamil groups. But the upset seems to be a thing of the past.
“IIFA is a pioneering initiative that opens new doors and creates myriad opportunities for the film industry by taking it to new shores each year,” Bachchan Jr. added. Accompanying him in his mission to promote this year’s IIFA was Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez.
“To be a part of the IIFA family is a feeling of great pride for anyone who is a part of the Indian Film Industry. IIFA has taken Indian cinema on an unparalleled journey over the last 13 years and it’s a proud moment to see the movement continuing to make impactful strides,” said Fernandez in a statement.
It’s also going to be a double celebration this year.
“We had an unforgettable experience in 2009 when we celebrated 10 glorious years of the IIFA movement. We are glad to be back and we are positive that this year will be more spectacular as we celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema,” said Sabbas Joseph, director of IIFA organisers Wizcraft. The event that culminates with an awards presentation ceremony that honours the best in Indian cinema. This year, Ranbir Kapoor’s romantic drama Barfi! leads the nominations tally with 13 nods. Movies such as sperm-donation comedy Vicky Donor, coal-mafia drama Gangs Of Wasseypur and Karan Johar’s modern adaptation of Bachchan classic Agneepath have also scored major nominations. In the past, IIFA has travelled to different destinations across the globe including London, Johannesberg and Toronto.
