Shabana wins IIFA leadership award wants to empower women

Shabana wins IIFA leadership award, wants to empower women
By Radhika Bhirani

Macau, June 12 (IANS) Acclaimed actress Shabana Azmi, who has been championing varied social causes, won the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Global Leadership Award here Friday. She is now looking forward to strengthening women's role in facilitating global change in all fields.

Her hard work in denouncing AIDS and communalism and improving lives of slum dwellers won her the award. The award was presented to Shabana by IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan.

"It falls upon global leaders in whichever field - business, economy, arts - to concern themselves with issues like economic meltdown, global warming and terrorism. There is a need to follow the best practice and to apply a code of ethics to all transactions. Only then can we all look forward to be together for a cause," said Shabana in her acceptance speech.

"Time and again we women say we are different from men - not better not worse but different - and with this difference we need to be included in the global change that is taking place. I feel this award is a step ahead," she added.

The actress is known for her powerful performances in acclaimed movies like "Masoom", "Arth", "Mandi" and recently released "Morning Raga", "15 Park Avenue" and "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd".

Bollywood lovebirds make appearance at IIFA Diary

Bollywood lovebirds make appearance at IIFA Diary
By Radhika Bhirani

Macau, June 12 (IANS) Whether it is 63-year-old Kabir Bedi or Riteish Deshmukh, who is almost half the latter's age, Bollywood's unmarried men were spotted with their girlfriends at the ongoing International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend here.

While Kabir Bedi walked in on the first day's green carpet hand in hand with his much-younger girlfrend Parveen Dusanj, Riteish descended with his rumoured girlfriend Genelia D'Souza.

Even former Miss World Lara Dutta, who looked stunning in a black heavily sequined top with trousers, walked in with actor boyfriend Dino Morea and stole away the limelight with her poise and enigma.

IIFA, an annual event that promises to take Indian cinema beyond Indian shores, kickstarted here Thursday and will end Saturday with the award ceremony.

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Sushmita Sen hopes for an award next year

Former beauty queen-turned-actress Sushmita Sen's dormant film career has left her with no option but to simply hope for an award every subsequent year.

"Unfortunately I am not getting any award this time. But I will be back with my other films next time. This time I will just give away the awards," Sushmita told reporters here.

Sushmita is here to promote her forthcoming comedy film "Do Knot Disturb", which also stars Govinda, Riteish and Lara.

"I am promoting my film heavily. That's what I am here for. We are also performing at the IIFA," she said.

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Is Neil Nitin Mukesh really an Indian?

Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh sent international mediapersons at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) into a tizzy with his good looks.

"Is he really Indian? Maybe he is of mixed origin," a Macau-based male journalist who writes for an English daily asked IANS.

Another journalist Claudia, who writes for a Portuguese paper here, said: "He looks amazing. Actually quite a few of the Indian actresses like Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta and Anushka Sharma also look good."

Blackjack roulette poker Bollywood stars go for it in Macau

Blackjack, roulette, poker - Bollywood stars go for it in Macau
By Radhika Bhirani

Macau, June 12 (IANS) A bevy of Bollywood stars attending the ongoing International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event here is loving Macau for the one thing it can't do in India officially - gambling.

Whether it is blackjack, roulette, poker or even just slot machines, actors and filmmakers are betting sums of money on the playing tables.

While actors like Zayed Khan, Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh have already hit the casinos, others like Amitabh Bachchan and Javed Akhtar preferred to stay away from the stalls at the lavish Venetian Macau-Resort here. Australian singer Peter Andre also stayed away.

Genelia D'Souza and Ashutosh Gowariker who arrived Thursday are waiting to try their luck.

Some roulette sound bytes of the stars:

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't gamble.

Lara Dutta: I played a little bit last night. Riteish (Deshmukh) taught me how to gamble - that is going to come handy for both of us later, but it's fun and exciting. I even won though I don't usually gamble because I don't know how to play.

Peter Andre: I don't know if I will play at the casino or not. Actually my dad doesn't like it.

Genelia DSouza: I am definitely going to be visiting the casinos here... Life is all about fun. I don't know how to play at the casino, but I am hoping to take some tips from here.

R. Madhavan: We go there (casinos) and pay our dues. I am not very good at it. I just play on slot machines and hope I hit the jackpot - that's all.

Neil Nitin Mukesh: No casinos for me.

Javed Akhtar: I have more interest in going to see the old churches - they are very beautiful. Today I saw very old churches - almost 400 years old - they were lovely.

Sushmita Sen: I will hopefully try my luck at the casino a little bit because I suppose this place (Venetian Macau-Resort) has the world's largest casino.

Kabir Bedi: I play poker and I don't find many places in the world where I can play it in a lovely atmosphere. So when I am here, I am sure I will play. I usually win some, lose some, but I don't play by the extremes.

Ashutosh Gowariker: I want to go to the casinos. I want to go there with 1,000 dollars and probably end up with 10,000 dollars by the end of the night.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: I am not so lucky in gambling - so I don't really know, but I guess I must check it out.

Randhir Kapoor: I think I will go to the casinos here. Please wish me luck.

David Dhawan: I did go to the casino yesterday and I lost. But no worries. Tonight I will recover it all.

Bollywoods star Living for IIfa Awards 2009

iifa Awards 2009

10th International Indian Film Academy in Macau

Abhishek Bachchan,left, and Aiswarya Rai Bachchan attend a circus show at the 10th International Indian Film Academy in Macau.

Amitabh Bachchan daughter in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and son Abhishek Bachchan pose with the members of a circus after they arrived for the Zaia Cirque Du Soleil Show during the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Macau .

Sonam Kapoor, center, poses before a circus at the 10th International Indian Film Academy in Macau.

Lara Dutta poses before a circus at the 10th International Indian Film Academy in Macau.

Ravina Tandon poses before a circus show at the 10th International Indian Film Academy in Macau .

Anushka Sharma arrives for the Zaia Cirque Du Soleil Show during the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Macau.

Rajesh Khanna poses with members of a circus after they arrived for the Zaia Cirque Du Soleil Show during the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Macau.

Indian director Ramesh Sippy poses with Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan's wax figure after he arrived for the Zaia Cirque Du Soleil Show during the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Macau.

Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire actors Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala Tanay Chheda and Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar pose with Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan's wax figure after they arrived for the Zaia Cirque Du Soleil Show during the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Macau.