Indian celebrities and Bollywood stars on Friday walked a green carpet for a second year in a row in the United Arab Emirates -- the signature colour of the International Indian Film Academy awards.
The 23rd edition of the "Bollywood Oscars" is being hosted at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, over two days. Friday night kicked off with performances by Bollywood A-listers such as Badshah and Rajkummar Rao.
The spotlight will shift on Saturday night to the main event, a grand awards ceremony that recognizes cinematic achievements from the past year.
"Often film stars and the industry are something that's far away from things like India and with us traveling around the world, we can bring them closer and create a bigger industry." said Noreen Khan, vice president of IIFA.
Home to over 3.5 million Indians, the UAE has an undeniable link to India's thriving multi-billion dollar film industry. Bollywood continues to extend its sway within the UAE, with its films being produced and screened across the country, and affluent Bollywood celebrities acquiring prime real estate properties across this federation of sheikhdoms.
"When would you ever get the chance to see Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, everyone up close, so I think it would be a great way of connecting the world with Bollywood," said veteran film director Farah Khan, who has attended every single IIFA awards.
The annual ceremony also presents an opportunity for Indian celebrities to showcase their fashion, and this year was no exception. Notable figures such as Urvashi Rautela, Abhishek Bachchan, and Nora Fatehi display their sartorial choices on the green carpet.
"Last year I was here, I met Salman Khan and he gave me three songs in his film, that's how important it is," said singer Sukhbir Singh who will be performing on Friday. "So this is where connections are made."
Salman Khan, one of Indian cinema's most recognizable names and the brand ambassador for IIFA 2023, will be performing on Saturday night. Hindi film stars Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal will be hosting the event and veteran actor Kamal Haasan is to be awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award.
Over 18,000 local and international fans lined the streets and filled the Etihad Arena, eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars.
Without having seen it, former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge believes that Tuesday's 2024 federal budget from Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is 'likely to be the worst budget' in decades.
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A controversial former school trustee from B.C.'s Fraser Valley who described a political rival as a "strip-tease artist" during an election campaign has been ordered to pay her $45,000 for defamation.
Michael Gordon Jackson, the man on trial after being charged with contravention of a custody order for allegedly abducting his daughter in late 2021 to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, called himself to the stand Monday.
Following the Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel over the weekend, Canada should take the threat of Iran and potential escalation of the conflict seriously, one global affairs analyst says.
A couple who owned a Colorado funeral home where authorities last year discovered 190 decaying bodies were indicted on federal charges that they misspent nearly US$900,000 in pandemic relief funds on vacations, cosmetic surgery, jewelry and other personal expenses, according to court documents unsealed Monday.
The ship crash that destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and left several people dead is now under federal criminal investigation, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
The historic hush-money trial of Donald Trump got underway Monday with the arduous process of selecting a jury to hear the case charging the former U.S. president with falsifying business records in order to stifle stories about his sex life.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let a Republican-backed law in Idaho that criminalizes gender-affirming care for transgender minors broadly take effect after a federal judge blocked it as unconstitutional.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be presenting the 2024 federal budget on Tuesday, revealing how the federal Liberal government intends to balance the nearly $40 billion in pre-announced new spending with her vow to remain fiscally prudent.
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It’s common knowledge that exercise is good for your mental health and your heart health — and now a new study suggests that all three are working together.
The cybersecurity firm BrandShield has taken down more than 250 websites selling fake versions of popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs in the GLP-1 class, the company’s CEO Yoav Keren told Reuters.
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Dyson Knight may look like an average college student, but since 2004, he’s actually been a member of the internationally acclaimed Baha Men.
Canadian singer Grimes apologized to fans on Saturday after her Coachella set earlier that evening was beset by technical issues that caused her to scream into the microphone in frustration.
A movie weapons supervisor was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of 'Rust.'
A Vancouver woman whose company duped investors by promising big returns on real-estate deals that would house the homeless has been ordered to pay nearly $626,000 after the British Columbia Securities Commission deemed the operation a Ponzi scheme.
The U.S. Department of Justice is preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation as soon as next month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Apple's smartphone sales tumbled 10 per cent last quarter, according to market research firm IDC, as sales in China fell sharply.
A high score on a Foo Fighters pinball machine has Edmonton player Dave Formenti on a high.
Celebrity food critic Keith Lee said he was blown away by Toronto, handing a rich ranking to its culinary creators, as the first international stop of his latest food tour.
Even as the cost of living goes up, there are still ways to save some cash when out shopping or using credit cards.
After four years at the University of Connecticut, Edwards was selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in the WNBA draft Monday night.
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The NBA broke all-time regular-season records for total attendance, average attendance and sellouts for the second straight year in 2023-24.
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For many, Monday's total solar eclipse will become a distant memory or collection of photos to scroll through in the years to come. But for Alannah Duarte and her family, they'll be reminded of the rare celestial event every year they celebrate their youngest son's birthday, as he was born on the day of the momentous occasion.
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The HMCS Max Bernays made its way into its new home at CFB Esquimalt on Monday after a long journey from Halifax.
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If you’re planning to head to the coulees this weekend to enjoy the nice weather, don’t forget to look down.
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The Soo Greyhounds are the talk of the town, as their second-round matchup in the OHL playoffs touches down in the Sault.
Thunder Bay Police Service held a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the misconduct investigation that led to criminal charges being laid against the city's former police chief.
A pricing agreement has been reached between crab fishers and seafood processors that will allow for Newfoundland and Labrador's annual crab fishery to get started.
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A unique photo exhibit is putting cameras into the hands of survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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