The International Indian Film Academy Awards return to Abu Dhabi this month, celebrating all things Bollywood.
To be held on May 26 and 27 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, the IIFA Awards, as they are popularly known, will kick off with IIFA Rocks, an evening dedicated to music and fashion.
The event will culminate in the awards gala, where Hindi films and performers of the past year will be honoured. The night will also feature performances by top Bollywood stars, hosted by actors Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal.
This is the second year in a row Abu Dhabi is hosting the event. Cities that have previously hosted the awards include Dubai, Bangkok, New York, Colombo, Amsterdam, Madrid, Florida, Kuala Lumpur and Macau.
Here are all the performers to look forward to at the IIFA Awards 2023 in Abu Dhabi.
IIFA Rocks
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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
On May 26, an evening dedicated to music and fashion will be hosted by acclaimed actor Rajkummar Rao and director Farah Khan, who also hosted last year.
The night will feature performances by rappers Badshah and Raftaar, music director Amit Trivedi, EDM producer Nucleya andsingers Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Anusha Mani, Mika, Sukhbir Singh and Goldie Sohel.
“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,” Badshah said. "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."
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.
Designer to the stars Manisha Malhotra will showcase a special collection for the fashion segment. The designer, whose fashion career began in the 1990s by styling Bollywood films, will also be honoured with a special Outstanding Achievement for Fashion in Cinema award on the night.
“The collection is reflective of ‘old-world charm meets the new world’ to create something breakthrough and imaginative," Malhotra said.
Malhotra is set to open his flagship boutique at the Dubai Mall soon.
IIFA Awards gala
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Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan will host the IIIFA Awards 2023 in Abu Dhabi. Photo: IIFA -
Vicky Kaushal won Best Actor for his role in Sardar Udham at last year's IIFA Awards in Abu Dhabi. Photo: IIFA -
Bollywood actor Salman Khan, an IIFA Awards ambassador, will also perform. AFP -
Varun Dhawan, known for his energetic performances, will also take the stage. Getty Images -
Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan missed the event last year after he tested positive for Covid-19. Photo: IIFA -
Nora Fatehi, who performed last year, will appear again. Photo: IIFA -
Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon will also perform. AFP -
Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh is confirmed for this year's event. AFP -
Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana is known for his versatility. AFP
The awards gala on May 27 will be the highlight of the two-day event, with Bollywood stars Bachchan and Kaushal taking on hosting duties. Nominees are yet to be announced for the fan-voted awards, but performers this year include IIFA ambassador Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Kartik Aaryan, Ayushmann Khurranna, Kriti Sanon, Nora Fatehi, Jacqueline Fernandez and Rakul Preet Singh.
Khan and Fatehi also performed last year, while Aaryan, who was scheduled to perform, missed the event after testing positive for Covid-19.
"As we approach the biggest Indian celebration, I am very thrilled to return to the wonderful people of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi," Bachchan said. "It will be an absolute pleasure and honour to entertain and meet fans from all over the world. Looking forward to hosting the IIFA Awards."
Stars confirmed to attend the awards gala include Alia Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor, Kamal Haasan and Riteish and Genelia D’Souza.
Actors Aparshakti Khurana, Sunny Kaushal, Mouni Roy, Fardeen Khan, Esha Gupta, Mrunal Thakur, Dia Mirza, Rashii Khanna and Sheeba Chaddha will also walk the green carpet.
The cast of Netflix reality show The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives will also be represented by Neelam Kothari, Bhavna Pandey, Maheep Kapoor and Seema Sajdeh.
Tickets to the IIFA Awards 2023, starting at Dh110, are available at etihadarena.ae
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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.
