When Canadian-born Bollywood actress Lisa Ray told reporters: "It's not every day that Bollywood comes to Toronto — so why not dress up and have some fun?" she could easily have been voicing the sentiments of thousands of Bollywood buffs gathered at the Silver City Cineplex in Brampton on Thursday.
Braving the chill and the slight drizzle, the ardent movie fans took it upon themselves to make stars including Anil Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, Mallika Sherawat, Riteish Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi feel welcome on the opening day of the International Indian Film Academy Awards weekend.
In typical Bollywood style, they made the Mission Impossible IV actor feel like a rockstar. No sooner had he stepped on to the symbolic eco-friendly green carpet, high-octane name-chanting and their exuberant high-fives engulfed him.
"I am loving all this. Bollywood has evolved in a good way. We are making better films, utilising better technology and the world is slowly sitting up to take notice — and you can see how much they enjoy our films," said Kapoor, cheerfully pointing to his frenzied fans pushing against the metal barricades.
He was joined by the cast of Double Dhamaal including Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Kangna Ranaut and Ashish Chaudhry.
"Double Dhamaal is a comedy without any pretensions. It's in your face and it's goofy. It's a perfect way to begin IIFAs with smiles on their faces," Warsi said. Though its leading actor Sanjay Dutt bowed out of the IIFAs, the other stars filled the void nicely.
The green-carpet reception was preceded by a glittering press conference to kick off IIFA activities. Hosts Boman Irani and Deshmukh got the ball rolling.
"It's a proud moment for me and Boman. We are hosting IIFA for the fourth time and it's so wonderful to get such a warm reception. I feel very special today," said Deshmukh. Before his appearance at the conference, he was accosted by dozens of teenagers who were camping outside the Fairmont York Hotel to catch a glimpse of the stars trickling in to participate. Urja Mehta, 19, is one fan.
"We have been here for more than three hours and this is the first time that we are seeing these actors in person — In India they make a lot of appearances, but this is a place where we can see all our favourite actors under one roof," Mehta said. Most of the stars including Ranveer Singh, Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza and Ranbir Kapoor have already flown in and are busy rehearsing for the D-day performances. tabloid! on Saturday gives you the highlights from the opening day.
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TAKE TWO
tabloid! on Saturday gives you a heads-up on what's next for ...
Producer-director Boney Kapoor
Kapoor is in the process of making his iconic film Mr India in 3D. He has already roped in its original cast comprising his wife Sri Devi and brother Anil Kapoor for the new venture.
"It's going to be far more high-tech and evolved than Mr India. I am also working on the sequel of No Entry with Salman Khan and Anil [Kapoor]".
Actor Arshad Warsi
"I will begin work on the sequel of Ishqiya — Vidya [Balan] is not going to be in it, I am going to miss her. But Madhuri Dixit [the star who replaced Balan] is one of my all-time favourite actors. I am looking forward to it."
Actor Riteish Deshmukh
"It's a season of sequels. After Double Dhamaal, I am working on three other sequels — naturally, the pressure is far more evident while making sequels."
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Walk in style
The fashion quotient at the IIFA green carpet:
A majority of the stars who trod the green carpet chose to drape themselves in creations made by their native Indian designers. While Ranaut chose a peach creation by Rohit Bal, Genelia D'Souza chose a black short number by Nachiket Barve. Meanwhile, Warsi opted for a Dolce & Gabbana suit.
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Newcomers such as Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha are equally popular with the Bollywood buffs in North America. While the Dabangg girl, whose film is nominated heavily in the IIFA list, is a crowd-favourite, Singh is winning people over with his innate charm.
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5 Minutes with Jermaine Jackson
What brings you to IIFA?
I am collaborating with Sonu Nigam for a tribute show for my brother.
I met Sonu [Nigam] a year ago in Los Angeles, where he told me about a song that he had written in my brother's honour. I loved it instantly and we went ahead to record it. After that, we were looking for an occasion to showcase it and we thought IIFA was the perfect setting to show it to the world.
Are collaborations the way ahead for musicians today?
Definitely, the process in itself is magical. Imagine two writers from two worlds coming together and composing songs — it's a beautiful thing. When I collaborated with singer Adnan Sami, I remember he gave such a distinct Indian flavour to one of my tracks. I am all for East-meets-West music.
Will we see you act or sing in a Bollywood musical?
I love Bollywood — the dance steps, the sets and the lavish production are all great. I am moved by some of the films. I have seen Devdas a few times and I am looking forward to seeing Shah Rukh Khan at this year's IIFAs.
When can we see you in Dubai next?
We would love to come and perform this in Dubai. I love the city and I have already been there a few times.
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Dia talks about her role as a producer
Turning producer is often the crutch used by failed actors, but Bollywood beauty Dia Mirza begs to differ.
"I did not turn producer so that I can act in good roles and be the heroine, I turned producer so that I can make movies that suit my sensibilities," Mirza said. Her debut production with Zayed Khan titled Love Break Ups Zindagi ticked all the right boxes.
"It's not your cheesy romantic comedy directed at the youth — it deals with relationships on a very real level," Mirza said. She added that film production is just the beginning.
"Very soon, I want to direct a film on my own. I am not your typical producer who just signs the cheques, I am more compassionate towards the creative side," she added. The film is slated to release next year.
Rapie fire
When you travel you always carry: My iPad, a warm shrug and flat shoes.
Your fitness regime: I haven't worked out in eight months, but portion control is my mantra. I eat everything but I eat very little of it. I love my desserts, but I eat a tiny portion only. And I am always active.
Your top IIFA pick: I hope Ishqiya wins. It was a story that was beautifully told against a very interesting backdrop.
Your fashion tip: Wear clothes that suit your body frame and don't follow trends blindly. Marc Jacobs is one of my all-time favourites.
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Goodbye gowns, says Mallika
It's rare to see Mallika Sherawat covering up herself well enough, but here was a treat. After making several appearances in gowns and revealing dresses with plunging necklines at international events, the actress chose to go completely desi on the first day of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards.
She chose a subtle cream-and-gold sari for the inaugural press conference and teamed it with a simple blouse, instead of a sexy one.
In the evening, at the green carpet for the premiere of her film Double Dhamaal, the Hisss girl was seen in a classic black and gold achkan-style kurta with pants, and carried the look with elan.
Why choose to suddenly look Indian?
"Kyun (Why)? You don't like it?" she shot back.
"I have worn a lot of dresses and gowns to the Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival. I was getting bored of them...So I decided it would be a good time for an Indian dose," she added.
— IANS
