IIFA will rock Toronto, say Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta
IIFA will make magic, promised Bollywood stars Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta as they announced that the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards would be held in this Canadian city in June.
|Last Updated: Jan 20, 2011, 11:50 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Toronto: IIFA will make magic, promised Bollywood stars Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta as they announced that the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards would be held in this Canadian city in June."IIFA will create magic, IIFA will rock," said Anil Kapoor Wednesday announcing the 12th IIFA awards ceremony from June 23-25.
"IIFA stands for building bridges. It will bring a little slice of India to Toronto," beamed Preity who joined Anil in the introductory ceremony attended by Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, his ministers and Indian envoy Preeti Saran.
Looking at McGuinty who persuaded Bollywood to bring the mega-show to this Canadian city during his visit to Mumbai in 2009, Preity said amid applause: "It is the first premiere of IIFA here thanks to Premier McGuinty."
Calling IIFA "a truly grand celebration of Bollywood," she said the event will be a big treat for the Indian diaspora in Canada.
Thanks to IIFA, she said, "about 25 percent of our (Bollywood) revenue comes from overseas now."
Anil, overwhelmed by the hospitality and warmth of Toronto, said: "IIFA Toronto will be wonderfully staged. It will be the biggest landmark event and redefine the relationship between our two countries."
"Premier, let me assure you that we will create magic. IIFA will rock Toronto," he added.
McGuinty, who presented Canada`s trademark BlackBerry smart phones to Preity and Anil, said he cannot wait to see the mega-show start.
"Toronto will be Bollywood central (during the event). It will redefine our city as a tourist destination and provide networking opportunities. We will put our best foot forward (to hold the event). It will be an unforgettable experience," he said.
Introducing the event to Canadians, Indian consul general Preeti Saran said: "IIFA could not have chosen a better venue than Toronto that celebrates integration and multiculturalism as no one else in the world."
"It is momentous that this prestigious award should be held in Toronto this year when we celebrate the Year of India in Canada," she added.
Calling McGuinty India`s "closest friend and supporter", she said it is he who "made IIFA Toronto 2011 possible".
More than 500 film stars and 40,000 visitors are expected to descend on Canada`s biggest city during the event.
The three-day show will feature the world premiere of a select films, an awards gala, a fashion show and interactive events across the cities of Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and Markham in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will also join the Bollywood bandwagon to talk business with its Canadian counterparts.
With its motto of `One People. One World,` IIFA has travelled to four continents during the past 11 years to take Bollywood to the wider global community.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.