Dabangg sweeps IIFA Awards; SRK & Anushka declared best actors

The award function will soon be telecast on Star Television Network, the global broadcast partner in more than 100 countries.

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | June 26, 2011

The 12^th Videocon d2h Weekend and Floriana IIFA Awards came to a remarkable finish today, surrounded by the overwhelming hysteria from the Bollywood fanatics in Toronto. With a 21,000 strong screaming crowd, the biggest stars from Indian cinema filled the Rogers Centre where eminent personalities including Hollywood stars, Hilary Swank and Cuba Gooding Jr were in attendance. Hosted by Boman and Riteish, a fourth consecutive year as hosts while Shah Rukh Khan joined them onstage soon after the curtains came up.

"India and Toronto has a special place in my heart.Hollywood and Indian cinema have to bring people together. I believe in IIFA's motto – One People, One World," said Oscar winner, Hilary Swank.

“I am truly bowled over by this fabulous industry. India has grabbed the world through Bollywood,” said Cuba Gooding Jr.

Dabangg, one of the Bollywood's biggest success this year, bagged maximum awards in Toronto. The Premier of Ontarion, Dalton McGuinty and director, Raj Kumar Hirani announced Dabangg as the voter's choice. Best Direction went to Karan Johar for his emotional film, My Name is Khan. The director received the same from Cuba Gooding Jr and Bipasha Basu.

Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai's Prachi Desai won the award as Supporting Female actor for her flawless performance while Arjun Rampal received the Supporting Male Actor was bagged for his impressive performance in the political thriller, Rajneeti. The very talented Riteish Deshmukh, won the award in a comic role for his striking and rib-tickling performance in Housefull.

IIFA has always aimed to adorn fresh and new talent and the debutant awards were swept by Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha for Band Bajaa Baaraat and Dabangg, respectively. Vishal Bharadwaj won the award for the Best Dialogue from the movie Ishqiya.

The stage was set on fire by the scintillating performances by the glamorous and sensual divas of Bollywood Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Kangana Ranaut, Ranveer Singh alongside Sonakshi Sinha and the Deol sons, Bobby and Sunny Deol with father, Dharmendra. Priyanka Chopra performed a touching tribute to melody queen, Asha Bhosle after which she was felicitated with the IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award for her 65 years as a playback singer in the Indian film industry.

The nights festivities came to a close with the jubilant King Khan, Shah Rukh Khan hosted a Bollywood Dance-Master Class imitating signature dances including Aamir Khan's Kya Bolti Tu, and Salman's famed Dabangg dance, ending with his inimitable arms-wide-open classic – Tujhe Dekha Toh Ye Jaane Sanam. This extravagant and prestigious award ceremony will be beamed to a global audience of over 700 million.

The IIFA Weekend is presented by Videocon d2h. The magical IIFA Awards are presented by Floriana. Air India will partner with IIFA as the Official Airlines Partner. Grey Goose are the Presenting Sponsors for IIFA Rocks, while Gitanjali Lifestyle are the Presenting Sponsors for the IIFA World Premiere of Double Dhamaal.

Panasonic is the partner for the Greening the IIFAs campaign. Star Television Network is the global broadcast partner taking the IIFA messaging and content across more than 100 countries. The Associate sponsors for the IIFA Weekend include: The Gitanjali Group, Rotomac Pens and Lotus Herbal. Wizcraft International Entertainment are the producers and conceptualisers of the CIBC-IIFA Celebrations, Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend and all events including the IIFA Rocks and the Floriana IIFA Awards.

IIFA TECHNICAL WINNERS LIST:

IIFA SPECIAL AWARDEES:

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