lifestyle MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 AWARDS

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor (center) performs on stage during 18th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Festival at the Bollywood MetLife Stadium in actor Salman East Rutherford, Khan (center) New Jersey, on performs Saturday. on stage. Bollywood superstars dazzle at IIFA awards ndia’s biggest Bollywood stars led a tri- who stars in action-adventure flick “Kung Fu umphant celebration of dance, music and Yoga” with Jackie Chan, said “all the actors are Ifashion at the International Indian Film coming to Bollywood to do Indian movies and Academy awards Saturday, cheered by thou- all the Indian Bollywood actors are going sands of ecstatic fans just outside New York. international.” The five-hour show at an American football “So I think it’s a huge change and hopefully stadium in New Jersey, where the glittering one day we’ll have one single industry,” Sood Manhattan skyline was visible from the park- added. IIFA selected gender equality as its ing lot, was a riot of color, glitz and stunning cause of the year, despite a film industry often dance routines. Best picture went to “Neerja,” a criticized for depicting women as meek and thriller based on the true story of a purser who subjecting characters to aggressive methods helped save the lives of more than 350 passen- of wooing by dominant male leads. “Pink” not gers when Libyan-backed hijackers stormed only won the best director award but also saw Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi in 1986. actress Taapsee Pannu, win the IIFA woman of The hijackers killed the purser and she the year award. “The entire world should posthumously became the youngest person watch this film,” said director Chowdhury. to receive India’s highest civilian award for India’s treatment of women shot to the inter- bravery. “Udta Punjab,” a gritty crime drama national spotlight in late 2012 when the fatal spotlighting the huge problem of drug abuse gang rape of a young student in the capital among young people in Punjab, scooped New Delhi sparked outrage over sexual abuse Shahid Kapoor best actor and Alia Bhatt best and gender inequality. — AFP actress in a leading role. The movie angered politicians in the state and the filmmakers took India’s censor board to court over a num- ber of cuts it tried to make. The trio of serious- minded films winning major awards was rounded out by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury taking home the award for best director for “Pink,” about sexual violence against women. The culmination of a three-day celebration of Indian cinema, the 18th edition of the awards Bollywood actor (center) performs on stage. ceremony was held just outside New York at ping costumes galore, it was a festive night. the audience to a snippet of Hollywood pro- the American football MetLife Stadium in East Thousands of delighted fans, dressed to the duction “The Black Prince” about Queen Rutherford, New Jersey. nines in evening gowns, cocktail dresses, saris Victoria and the Last King of Punjab, and jewel-encrusted shalwar kameez, shrieked Maharajah Duleep Singh, which goes on ‘Seduce more hearts’ with delight, declared love for stars and release in the US next week. Indian film is Winner of Best Performance in a Leading The awards, which some have likened to laughed at the jokes of funny men hosts, actor growing in North America, thanks to a thriving Role - Male, Shahid Kapoor for “Udta the Oscars of Bollywood, is India’s biggest Saif Ali Khan and producer-director Karan Indian economy, an increasing and affluent Punjab” accepts his award. media event and one of the world’s most- Johar. There was glamor from winner Alia South Asian diaspora, and growing popularity watched annual entertainment shows, with an Bhatt in a crystal-studded strapless ballgown among Afghans, Arabs, Russians and audience of nearly 800 million people. Held in and Katrina Kaif who shimmered in a lime- Caribbean immigrants. a different city overseas each year to showcase green bra top, spray-on black pants and silver what is the most prolific film industry in the tassels through an upbeat dance. Actress ‘Watch this film’ world and the soft power of India, the 2017 , who won fame for being sub- But if there were few non-South Asians in event comes with Indian film on the up in jected to alleged racist taunts and winning sight Saturday, Bollywood heroes walking the North America. From a Donald Trump imper- Britain’s “Celebrity ” in 2007, looked green carpet welcomed the ceremony as a sonator named Ronald Grump, to a closing statuesque in shimmering one-shoulder chance to further the industry internationally. song and dance routine from Bollywood bad peach lashed to the thigh. “Many others get exposed to this, that way we boy Salman Khan, which had love-struck The ceremony honored double-Oscar win- will seduce more hearts for Indian films,” said women screaming in delight, and signature ner movie composer A.R. Rahman and treated Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover. Sonu Sood, Bollywood formation numbers with eye-pop-

Winner of Performance in a Supporting Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha speaks Role - Male, Bollywood actor Anupam Kher on stage. for “MS Dhoni” accepts the award on stage.

Best Picture Neerja’s director Ram Madhvani and staff address the audience on stage.

Winner of Performance in a Supporting Role - Feamle, Shabana Bollywood Actress Katrina Kaif holds a trophy on stage. Azmi for “Neerja” accepts the award on stage. Bollywood actor Sonu Sood performs on stage.