Entertainment | Celebrity

Masala moments at IIFA

The five best moments of Thursday’s ceremony

Manjusha Radhakrishnan
Published: 00:00 June 9, 2012

Image Credit: IANS
Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar during `Jaypee IIFA` press meet held in Mumbai.

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The 13th edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) in Singapore is all set for a lot of action and drama. With enough real-life material that can put any masala film to shame, The weekend tabloid! picks out the top five moments on Thursday …

“We should call this year’s IIFAs ‘YIIFAs’, as in Young IIFAs,” said actor-director extraordinaire Farhan Akhtar. He was feeling particularly “youthful” and was happy to see all the young faces dotting the award ceremony. Fortunately, he didn’t act like a hormone-charged college student and said he missed his wife terribly.

Why?

“Oh, she would have loved this kooky decor,” said Akhtar, as he scanned the IIFA celebrity gift lounge studded with some seriously psychedelic furniture. “I like it, but not all the pieces in one room,” he said.

“Kids today don’t need advice. They give us tips,” said veteran actor Rishi Kapoor about his dynamic son Ranbir, his voice reflecting a mix of pride and resignation. Clearly, his parenting skills are all about having a hands-off approach.

“I am a proud father and Ranbir has made the whole family feel very proud. He has worked hard to get where he is,” he said.

“Guys, there’s a mast [fantastic] item number in Maximum,” Sonu Sood said. Amid all the bone-cracking in the cop-drama Maximum, the director has managed to squeeze in a suitably sleazy item number. Though the cast of Maximum cried that including the song was an organic process, we think it’s sad that an action drama featuring talents such as Naseeruddin Shah and Sood had to resort to titillation.

“As a woman, you can walk out in Singapore even at 1am and take a cab — and your security is ensured,” Shabana Azmi said. The IIFAs brought out the Azmi’s feminist side. According to her, women’s liberation, among other things, is also about freedom of movement round the clock. After staging two plays in Singapore and staying more than 40 days in the city, she was all praise for its foliage, people and food. Besides, she’s convinced that Vidya Balan will emerge the Best Actor (Female) winner.

“There’s no doubt. It’s given that Vidya will take home that award,” she said.

“You should ask him when he’s going to marry me,” said Abhay Deol’s girlfriend Preeti Desai. On the green carpet, Desai effortlessly deflected the sticky question about marriage plans. But Deol was more than happy to have some fun.

“Guys, we are still young and strapping. What’s the hurry to marry us off? Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost [the movie is not over yet, my friend],” Deol said.