The big event is on Wednesday, September 18, but last night saw the kick off of 'Bollywood's Oscars' in Mumbai.
The IIFA Rocks show on Monday night marked the start of the 20th International Indian Film Awards, and saw technical awards handed over, as well as musical performances and fashion shows.
Fashion wise, Katrina Kaif chose a red Julien Macdonald design, while Radhika Apte wore a directional grey jumpsuit by Indian designer Nikhil Thampi:
On the night, Sudeep Chatterjee won Best Cinematography for his work on Padmaavat; Best Screenplay went to the Andhadhun team, who also won Sound Mixing, Background Score and Editing awards.
Meanwhile, Padmavaat took home a choreography award, and Bahdaai Ho! was honoured for its dialogue.
This is the first time the IIFA Awards ceremony, and its famous green carpet, has been held in Mumbai, the home of Bollywood (last year the event was in Thailand).
The nominees for best picture at the IIFA – black comedy Andhadhun, spy thriller Raazi, swashbuckling epic Padmaavat, and middle-aged motherhood comedy-drama Badhaai Ho – underline that Bollywood has long ago moved on from the cliched all-singing, all-dancing affair.
Bollywood is an industry that is only on the up: according to the Ernst & Young analysis, industry revenues are estimated to swell from 174.5 billion rupees (Dh8.9 billion) in 2018 to 236.1 billion rupees in 2021.
Hear Katrina Kaif speak on the IIFA Rocks red carpet here (she starts talking at one minute, 30 seconds):
