Karan Johar and Farah Khan to host IIFA Rocks in Abu Dhabi, featuring Badshah and more

Sunidhi Chauhan, Amit Trivedi and Nucleya are among performers announced so far for the entertainment night at Etihad Arena

Acclaimed Bollywood actor Rajjummar Rao will co-host IIFA Rocks 2023 with director Farah Khan in Abu Dhabi. All photos: IIFA

After hosting the IIFA Rocks at the Etihad Arena last year, Farah Khan will return for the event in Abu Dhabi in May

Rapper Badshah will perform at IIFA Rocks in Abu Dhabi

Singer Sunidhi Chauhan

EDM Producer Nucleya will perform at IIFA Rocks

Singer and composer Amit Trivedi

Indian designer Manish Malhotra, known for his work in Bollywood films, will showcase a special collection at IIFA Rocks 2023 in Abu Dhabi. Photo: IIFA

Shreya Ghoshal will perform at IIFA Rocks. Suzanne Lee for The National

Singer Mika Singh. Photo: IANS

Indian singer Sukhbir. EPA

Bollywood director and producer Karan Johar will join returning host, filmmaker Farah Khan, for IIFA Rocks, the musical and fashion night preceding the main awards gala at the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Abu Dhabi.

To be held at the Etihad Arena on February 10, Johar and Khan will entertain Bollywood fans along with top performers including rapper Badshah, singer and music director Amit Trivedi, singer Sunidhi Chauhan and EDM producer Nucleya.

“I’ve shared a special bond with IIFA for over two decades. It will be a pleasure to rock the stage with Farah," Johar said.

The director, who also hosts the hugely popular celebrity talk show Koffee with Karan, was named as host of IIFA Rocks earlier this year, but had to cancel owing to scheduling conflicts after the event was postponed to June 3 and 4 from its original May date following the death of Sheikh Khalifa.

The IIFA Awards, which recognise the best Hindi films and actors from the previous year, are usually held in a different city every year, but it is returning to Abu Dhabi for the second year in a row next year. Celebrations will begin with IIFA Rocks, followed by the main awards gala the following night on February 11.

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from IIFA Rocks 2022 in Abu Dhabi

South Indian composer and singer Devi Sri Prasad performs at IIFA Rocks at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on June 3. All photos: IIFA 2022

Devi Sri Prasad, popularly known as DSP, created a special mix for his Abu Dhabi performance — blending one of his hits 'OO Antava Mava' with Arabic beats and the Punjabi dhol.

The IIFA Rocks show was hosted by director Farah Khan Kunder and actor Aparshakti Khurana.

Dancers performing at IIFA Rocks.

Composer A R Rahman being honoured by host Farah Khan Kunder.

Singer Neha Kakkar on stage.

Neha Kakkar also performed with her husband, singer Rohanpreet Singh.

Neha Kakkar and Rohanpreet Singh on the IIFA Rocks stage.

The couple performed their hits together.

Hosts Farah Khan Kunder and Aparshakti Khurana share a light moment with actor Chunky Panday.

Singer and actor Zahrah S Khan performs.

Zahra S Khan shares the stage with singer and composer Tanisk Bagchi.

Neha Kakkar belted out her hits.

Singers Asees Kaur and Zahrah S Khan on stage.

Singer Asees Kaur performs.

Actress Jacqueline Fernandez was one of the models for the fashion show.

Actress Ananya Panday walks the catwalk for designers Falguni and Shane Peacock.

Bollywood actors Ananya Panday and Jacqueline Fernandez helped showcase the latest collection by celebrity favourite designers Shane and Falguni Peacock.

“In 2017, Alia Bhatt had New York enthralled when she sang my song Kar Gayi Chull from her film Kapoor and Sons at the IIFA Awards. This year, I will be there in person to regale you with some of my popular hits. So, fasten your seat belts and prepare for a rocking landing,” Badshah said.

Chauhan, who remains the youngest nominee for Best Female Playback Singer for Mehboob Mere from the film Fiza (2000), has been nominated 17 times and won the award twice for the Dhoom (2004) title track Dhoom Machale and Omkara’s (2006) Beedi.

“This year, IIFA gives me a platform to entertain my extended family of fans from across the world. It’s going to be an amazing spectacle; we will rock Abu Dhabi!” she said.

Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh, Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon are set to perform on the gala night while actors Farhan Akhtar and Abhishek Bachchan will play host along with actor Maniesh Paul.

Bollywood stars Farhan Akhtar and Abhishek Bachchan will host the IIFA Awards 2023 in Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena along with actor and presenter Maniesh Paul. Photo: Wizcraft

"I’m excited to be headlining IIFA again with a performance that hopefully will be memorable to all those attending it," Singh said.

"I’m thrilled for this one because I will be performing at Yas Island, my home away from home. As the brand ambassador for such a spectacular destination, I cannot wait to showcase the island to my friends from the industry, as well as to those attending this event as an audience. I’m anticipating the most incredible IIFA experience to date at Yas because I know it will be epic in every way possible."

First held in London in 2000, the IIFA Awards were conceptualised by Mumbai event company Wizcraft International Entertainment and have been instrumental in boosting Bollywood's popularity globally.

Dubai hosted the event, in 2006, and so has Bangkok, New York, Colombo, Amsterdam, Madrid, Florida, Kuala Lumpur and Macau.

This year's event marked the first time it was held in Abu Dhabi, attended by more than 20,000 fans across two days, IIFA organisers said.

Tickets, starting at Dh110, are on sale now at etihadarena.ae

Scroll through the gallery for pictures from the IIFA Awards 2022 gala in Abu Dhabi

Actors Maniesh Paul, Riteish Deshmukh and Salman Khan hosted the 22nd IIFA Awards at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All photos: IIFA2022

Salman Khan arrived to the venue on a motorbike.

Actor Tiger Shroff was one of the first performers of the night.

Tiger Shroff is known for his high-energy dance moves.

Shroff performed a mix of his hits, including 'Whistle Baja', 'Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main', 'Dus Bahane' and 'Jai Jai Shivshankar'.

Singer Jubin Natiyal won the Best Playback Singer (Male) for the song 'Raataan Lambiyan' from the film 'Shershaah'.

Asees Kaur also won Best Playback Singer (Female) for 'Raataan Lambiyan' from the film 'Shershaah'.

Ahan Shetty won the Best Debut (Male) for his role in 'Tadap'.

Actor Suniel Shetty handed the Best Debut (Male) award to his son Ahan Shetty.

Actress Divya Khosla Kumar performs.

Rapper Yo Yo Singh and Guru Randhawa debuted their song 'Designer' at the IIFA Awards.

The musicians were joined by Divya Khosla Kumar for a performance.

Punjabi pop star Guru Randhawa performs.

Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh on stage.

Actor Abhishek Bachchan appears on stage.

Nora Fatehi on stage at the IIFA Awards 2022 in Abu Dhabi.

Nora Fatehi shared the stage with a young dancer, Kashni from Abu Dhabi, who she found via an Instagram scout.

Fatehi also debuted her new song 'Dirty Little Secrets' in Abu Dhabi.

Filmmaker Vishnuvardhan's film 'Shershaah' won both Best Director and Best Picture.

Anurag Basu won Best Original Story for 'Ludo'.

Sai Tamhankar with her award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film 'Mimi'.

Pankaj Tripathi won Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Ludo'.

Kriti Sanon received the Best Actress for her role in the film 'Mimi'.

Vicky Kaushal with his Best Actor for his role in 'Sardar Udham'.

Abhishek Bachchan began his performance with the song 'Indiawale'.

Abhishek Bachchan performs. His was one of the most well-received performances of the night.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Aaradhya dancing as they watch Abhishek Bachchan perform.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya enjoy Abhishek's performance on the front row.

Ananya Panday performs.

Actress Sara Ali Khan performs.

Abhishek Bachchan performs.

Ananya Panday's first ever live performance didn't seem like one. She aced it like a seasoned performer.

Sara Ali Khan delivered a high-energy set on stage.

For his performance, Shahid Kapoor made his entrance with the song 'Yaad Aa Raha Hai' via a small platform above the audience.

Kapoor's performance was a tribute to Bollywood singer and composer Bappi Lahiri, who died in February.

Kapoor also pulled actress Ananya Panday from the audience.

Lahiri was known for introducing Bollywood to disco and electronic music. For Kapoor's performance, the Etihad Arena was converted into a disco hall.

Kapoor was also joined by Nora Fatehi for a song.

Kapoor's tribute to Lahiri was the final performance of the night.