The star-studded IIFA Awards ceremony for 2023 concluded in a spectacular two-day extravaganza held at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The event, which celebrates the best of Hindi films, witnessed some of the biggest names in Bollywood gracing the occasion. Among the highlights of the evening was Ajay Devgn-starrer ‘Drishyam 2’ winning the prestigious award for Best Picture. Producers Bhushan Kumar and Kumar Mangat accepted the honor for their remarkable remake of the popular Malayalam movie.
The awards ceremony also recognized exceptional performances by talented actors. Alia Bhatt, who couldn’t attend the event, was honored with the Best Performance in a Leading Role – Female for her portrayal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. Hrithik Roshan, on the other hand, took home the IIFA trophy for Best Performance in a Leading Role – Male for his captivating work in the action-thriller film ‘Vikram Vedha’.
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer ‘Brahmastra: Part One Shiva’ emerged as the film with the most wins, including Best Playback Singer (Female) for Shreya Ghoshal, Best Playback Singer (Male) for Arijit Singh, Best Lyricist for Amitabh Bhattacharya, and Best Supporting Actor (Female) for Mouni Roy.
The evening was also marked by well-deserved recognition for veteran actor Anil Kapoor, who won the award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role – Male for his role in ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’. Actor R. Madhavan was honored with the Best Direction award for his directorial debut ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’, while Perveez Sheikh and Jasmeet Reen received accolades for Best Original Story for ‘Darlings’.
The awards ceremony also paid tribute to promising newcomers. Late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan’s son, Babil Khan, and Shantanu Maheshwari shared the Best Debut (Male) award for their respective films ‘Qala’ and ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. Khushali Kumar was recognized as the winner of the Best Debut (Female) for ‘Dhoka Around the Corner’.
Music maestro A. R. Rahman had the honor of felicitating the legendary Kamal Haasan with the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award, acknowledging his unparalleled contribution to the industry.
The IIFA Awards night was not just about awards but also about captivating performances. Varun Dhawan paid tribute to renowned Bollywood directors Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Rohit Shetty, and Karan Johar through his energetic dance performances. Nora Fatehi enthralled the audience with her scintillating act on old Bollywood cabaret numbers, while Rakul Preet Singh took everyone on a nostalgic journey with her performance on classic tracks from the black-and-white era.
The IIFA Awards 2023 was a grand celebration of Hindi cinema, showcasing the talent and dedication of artists and filmmakers. The event was made possible through a collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading curator of immersive destinations and experiences. It left the audience eagerly awaiting the next edition, which promises to be even more dazzling and memorable.