Bollywood stars will add glitz to film awards

The Indian film industry's stellar line-up of artistes including Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Lara Dutta, Amrita Rao, Koena Mitra, and Shahid Kapoor, will perform at the Global Indian Film Awards [GIFA] in Dubai on January 27.

The GIFA is a three-day extravaganza starting with a movie premiere on January 25 of Padmashree Lalu Prasad Yadav featuring Suniel Shetty, Masumeh, Johnny Lever, Kim Sharma, Anupama Verma, Kunika, Sharat Saxena and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar.

On January 26, the stars will sweat it out for a cause with a celebrity football match at the Dubai Police Stadium, followed by a charity gala dinner to raise funds in aid of the tsunami victims.

January 27 will set the stage for the GIFA Awards night at the Al Wasl Stadium where ten per cent of the proceeds will go to the Indian Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Sequences created by Vaibhavi Merchant, whose talents shine in films like Devdas, the famous Dhol Baje in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost and most recently in the super hit song One Love in Rakht, will add excitement to the glitz and glamour of the evening.

The set design is by the famous and award winning Sabu Cyril, who has contributed his skills in films like Asoka, Devdas, Yuva and Main Hoon Na.

Perizaad Zorabian, the lead actress of Joggers Park, will greet and interview over 200 celebrities walking down the 'Bollywood Red Carpet Walk'.

Fans will also see eminent personalities like Gulshan Grover, Diana Hayden, and Celina Jaitley who will host key segments of the show.

Nominations for GIFA have been invited for films released in the Indian market during the period January December 2004.

On announcing GIFA's performing artistes' names, Sameer Khan, VP Global Events and GIFA's official spokesperson, said, "Global Indian Film Awards provides Bollywood fans with a platform to get up close and personal with their favourite stars, meet them in person, watch them performing live and also judge who will win the most coveted categories Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director for 2004."

The GIFA trophy is individually handcrafted in 24 kt fresh new Australian gold depicting the five elements of the universe.

Manufactured and plated in Dubai by Italian Jewellery and certified by Alex Stewart Assayers, it is awarded by Citigold The Australian Gold Mine, reaffirming their commitment to GIFA.