Filmmaker and one of the winners of the evening Rajat Kapoor was the first to arrive, much before the other stars, and went unnoticed. It was only when actors Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor, stars of the upcoming ABCD 2, arrived that the ‘golden carpet’ at the inaugural Arab Indo Bollywood Awards (Aiba) started to liven up on Friday night at Meydan in Dubai.
Neha Dhupia, dressed in a rust-coloured Sabyasachi number arrived after Kapoor to take her place as she was presenting the event’s broadcast on the red carpet.
Filmmakers David Dhawan and Sajid Nadiadwala, Dubai-based actress Veena Malik — who showed off her four-month-old baby bump — actresses Zareen Khan and Daisy Shah, choreographer Ahmad Khan, were among those who walked the golden carpet. Kriti Sanon, who won best debut female for Heropanti, added to the glamour in her Andrew GN floral creation.
Here’s what some of them told us:
Neha Dhupia
“I’m excited to host the golden carpet because it’s just a whole bunch of people I know and I’ll be getting out some really fun details about what they are wearing. [Personally] I’m never conscious about what I wear. Just kidding, but yes there’s no set rule for me — [about] what I will wear for a particular event, so this Indo-western fusion wasn’t really planned. It’s just what you like at that moment”.
Javed Jaffrey
“I love Dubai. It’s the first time they are attempting something [the Aiba] and the involvement of the Arab people and Indian nationals from Arabia, who came to vote for their favourite stars. I think it’ll be a pretty potent platform for the love between [the] Arab world and Bollywood”.
Brothers Manmeet and Harmeet
“It’s a blessing to have a hit not just in India but [also] across the world, wherever we are going. Dubai is Bollywood’s favourite place to hangout because it’s very close to Mumbai, it is the shopping hub of the world with the best food. We love Dubai! And getting an award here is the biggest honour. We have a movie coming out every month now and whenever we come to Dubai and switch on the FM we either hear Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan or Baby Doll playing. In fact, today we are doing the Arabic version of Baby Doll, which Kanika [Kapoor] will be singing with us”.
Arbaaz Khan, jury member
“There weren’t many challenges as a jury member because it was a collective decision with Tigmanshu [Dhulia] leading us. Some films are just easy to judge. Some win accolades through awards, others through the box office”.
When asked about if he was relieved after the Salman Khan case and the fact he’s performing here tonight, Khan brushed it off saying “it’s not an appropriate time to bring up the subject”.
Rajkumar Hirani
“We are all waiting for ‘Munnabhai’ [Sanjay Dutt, who is serving his last three years for illegal possession of arms] to come out to finish Munnabhai 3. Till then there’s a biopic on Munnabhai himself.
“As far as Aiba is concerned, I think any kind of event they [people] come together to celebrate cinema is good, so [the] more the merrier”.
Manish Paul
“I don’t know yet [who I will pick on in the show]. I’m waiting to see who all are there. I’m rushing now to rehearse with Karan [Johar]”.
Kanika Kapoor wearing Gauri and Nainika
“I will be singing Baby Doll in Arabic. It’s the first time I’m trying to sing [in] Arabic”.
Nitin Kakkar
“Actually, for me Dubai is like Filmistaan. It’s like no man’s land where Indians and Pakistanis come together without inhibitions”.
Sharib Hashmi and Inaamulhaq
“We’ve been nominated in six categories — best film, best debut director, best screenplay, best debut actor, best actor in comic role and best actor in supporting role. We love being in Dubai, and this time the joy is doubled”.
Remo D’Souza with Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor
Remo: “[For Kapoor, doing well as a dancer,] credit goes to her hard work”.
Varun: “Shraddha was a star, but after ABCD2 she’ll be known as a dancing star”.
Don’t miss it!
The Aibas will be aired on Zee Cinema on July 24 at 7.30pm in the UAE. For more, go to aibagulf.com.
