Saturday night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium clearly belonged to Zoya Akhtar’s feelgood film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) and Rockstar hero Ranbir Kapoor.
While Akhtar scooped five awards including Best Picture and Best Direction, Ranbir Kapoor’s blockbuster Rockstar won four awards including Best Actor, Best Music and Best Story.
But there was one category that these two forces couldn’t stake a claim to: Best Actress. The Dirty Picture star Vidya Balan ensured that as she rounded off this year’s final Bollywood awards by taking home the coveted trophy.
“I wish my parents were here to see this. Mr Haasan, I have worshipped you all my life and you are my all-time idol. It’s such an honour to receive the award from you,” said Balan, as she accepted the golden statue from South Indian actor Kamal Haasan. In a vote of thanks tinged with nostalgia and elation, Balan said she has come full circle this year.
“I premiered my first film, Parineeta, at IIFA Amsterdam. Now seven years later I am receiving the Best Actress for the The Dirty Picture. It has been a very fulfilling journey and I hope I continue to receive your love and blessings,” said Balan, clad in her trademark silk sari. Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor took a slightly more flippant route.
“Come on everyone. This is the last time. Say Sadda Haq,” shouted Kapoor as he prodded his fans to chant the victory cry from Rockstar. Thousands of fans obliged.
He was presented the trophy by music maestro A. R. Rahman, who won the Best Music Score for the same film.
“It has been an important year. Rockstar was a special film. I had the opportunity to work with masterminds like Imtiaz Ali, Mr A. R. Rahman and my late grandfather Mr Shammi Kapoor. I humbly close this year with the trophy,” said Kapoor. It was a proud moment for the sibling duo Farhan and Zoya who scooped the awards for their production ZNMD.
“The evening has turned out be more fabulous than expected. Thank you IIFA. There are a couple of young men who are involved in this project,” said Akhtar, as she received the Best Picture award. Unlike its previous outings, the annual awards show was not led by the Khan triumvirate (Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir) but by Bollywood’s young rising talents.
“Thank you, Ritesh [Sidhwni, co-producer] and Farhan for their pampering, Abhay-Hrithik [Deol and Roshan] for their stamina, Carlos my partner in crime … my gorgeous girlfriends Kalki [Koechlin] and Katrina [Kaif], who aren’t here,” she said referring to the ensemble cast.
“Since the director is as good as his crew, this wouldn’t have happened without them. I thank them and I beg them to do my next film,” said Akhtar about her young team. The sibling partnership wasn’t limited to the Akhtars.
Rising star Parineeti Chopra did Priyanka Chopra, her cousin and an established star, proud by scooping two awards, Best Debut and Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl.
While her first appearance on stage to collect the Best Debut was dramatic and endearingly loud, her second appearance was a emotional one. At one point, Preity Zinta, who presented the second honour, had to dab her tears.
“Twelve months ago, I was in a 9-to-5 job, punching in numbers. Now, I am standing in a gown here and I can’t believe it,” said Chopra after unleashing an ear-piercing scream of joy. In stark contrast was music maestro A. R. Rahman who received the Best Music Award for Rockstar with restraint.
“This is a special day because something historic has happened for the creative people in India. Javed sir [Akhtar, lyricist] has been a key reason. We are going to get our rights and I hope that creative people are going to do extraordinary things with it,” said Rahman as he hailed the Copyright Act (Amendment) Bill, which strengthens the royalty claims of musicians and lyricists. When legendary actress Rekha and Sholay filmmaker Ramesh Sippy were honoured with Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema, Priyanka Chopra paid tribute to Rekha by dancing to some of her hits and veteran actors Haasan, Rishi Kapoor and Javed Akhtar doled anecdotes about Sippy.
“I would like to dedicate this to today’s young actors who are super, super talented and who never ceases to amaze me. I am looking at Vidya [Balan], Priyanka [Chopra], Sonakshi [Sinha], Parineeti [Chopra] and Ranbir [Kapoor]. This is a validation of what I have done,” said Rekha, dressed in a rich burgundy sari and heavy jewellery.
Honouring the best in Bollywood was not only thing during the five-hour extravaganza. Longer than an average Bollywood film, it had twice as many songs, dances and fun moments. Though the winners at this year’s IIFAs were predictable, the action and drama kept the evening alive.
The full list of winners:
• Best Actor – Ranbir Kapoor (Rockstar)
• Best Actress - Vidya Balan (The Dirty Picture)
• Best Movie - Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
• Best Director - Zoya Akhtar (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara)
• Best Story - Zoya Akhtar and Reema Katgi (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara)
• Hottest Bollywood Pair - Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri (Rockstar)
• Best Supporting Actor - Farhan Akhtar (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara)
• Best Supporting Actress - Parineeti Chopra (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl)
• Best Performance in a Comic Role - Ritesh Deshmukh (Double Dhamaal)
• Best Performance in a Negative Role - Prakash Raj (Singham)
• Best Debut (Male) - Vidyut Jamwal (Force)
• Best Debut (Female) - Parineeti Chopra (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl)
• Best Music - A R Rahman (Rockstar)
• Best Singer Male – Mohit Chauhan (Nadaan Parinde from Rockstar)
• Best Singer Female - Shreya Ghosal (Teri Meri from Bodyguard)
• Best Lyrics - Irshad Kamil (Nadaan Parindey – Rockstar)
• IIFA Awards 2012 for Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema - Rekha and Ramesh Sippy
• IIFA 2012 Green Award: Dia Mirza
