Rajkummar Rao to host IIFA Rocks with Farah Khan in Abu Dhabi

The music and fashion night is a precursor to the main awards gala, to be held at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island

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

Acclaimed Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao will co-host IIFA Rocks, the first night of the International Indian Film Academy awards that is dedicated to music and fashion.

The two-day event, celebrating all things Bollywood, is set to return to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena for the second year in a row, on May 26 and 27.

Rao, who was last seen in the film Bheed, released in March, will host the night with director Farah Khan, who also hosted the event last year. IIFA Rocks will feature top performers including rapper Badshah, singer and music director Amit Trivedi, singer Sunidhi Chauhan and EDM producer Nucleya.

Known popularly as the IIFA Awards, IIFA Rocks will be followed by the main awards gala the following night on May 27.

Scroll through the gallery below for more 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.

Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan will host the awards night, which is set to be attended by some of the biggest stars in the Hindi film industry, including Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Karan Johar and Kriti Sanon.

“I'm ecstatic to be hosting the 23rd edition of IIFA at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. IIFA is like family to me. I am looking forward to entertaining, meeting fans and connecting with them globally,” Bachchan said earlier.

“IIFA is the only global platform that has travelled the world. It has bought cinema lovers closer from all across the globe. As always, I am looking forward to the next edition of IIFA Weekend and awards and am excited to be co-hosting the 23rd edition.”

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 global popularity. They are held in a different location every year.

Cities that have previously hosted the awards include Dubai, Bangkok, New York, Colombo, Amsterdam, Madrid, Florida, Kuala Lumpur and Macau.

Last year's event marked the first time it was held in Abu Dhabi, on June 3 to 4, after being postponed following the death of Sheikh Khalifa.

More than 20,000 fans attended the event across two days, IIFA said.

Tickets, starting at Dh110, are available at etihadarena.ae

Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures from IIFA Awards 2022 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.