Entertainment
IIFA in Abu Dhabi gets in celebratory mode with stardust all over
Published
2 years agoon
Kumar Shyam
A gamut of Bollywood stars descended on the Yas Island in Abu Dhabi where Etihad Arena will host the 22nd IIFA Awards and the buzzword on the eve of it was ‘celebration’.
Led by Salman Khan and organised by Wizcraft along with Watermelon as their local partners, the International Indian Film Academy Awards makes its debut in UAE. In keeping with the international feel of the event, journalists from 30 countries were present on invitation at the press conference to give out details on what to expect over the course of the next two days.
Despite the sad death of singer KK three days back, every star or singer present in the room at Etihad Arena on Thursday said they were looking forward to the event for various reasons.
After trying to pretend he was bored with the speeches, Khan said he was “happy to be here in Abu Dhabi, one of my favourite destinations personally. And IIFA has been like a family.”
Salman also had a bit of banter on stage and off-stage. When Honey Singh and Divya Khosla Kumar tried to present their song ‘Designer’ and the emcee Sidharth Kannan just threw a random question of any future collaboration, Singh said he already had a song ready. Khan chimed in from the front row that “there will be billion views for it” and that was cue enough for Singh to voice out couple of lines for an impromptu jig.
Nerves and anxiety
When all the stars took the stage in lots, each was asked what can fans expect from Saturday’s main event – to be hosted by Khan, Ritesh Deshmukh and Manish Paul while Farah Khan and Aparshakti Khurrana will host the IIFA Rocks, for the music awards, on Friday.
Deshmukh said he was nervous and will look for support from Salman who immediately quipped in Hindi, “Mein khud Allah ke bharose hoon [I am at the mercy of Allah myself]. To which Paul said he was about to say he was a small fry and was expecting the two to lend support.
Also nervous was Shahid Kapoor, who revealed that he will be dancing to the songs of Bappi Lahiri, who died in his sleep earlier this year. “I was a big fan and I am also nervous because it has been a long, long time. People think I am a dancer … but I haven’t actually done it [dance live on stage] for six years! But it’s exciting to be back at live functions and meeting people in person.”
Every one echoed that the IIFA Abu Dhabi, being one of the first awards function to be in-person after three years of disruption due to the pandemic, has everyone looking forward to it.
![Miral-IIFA](http://headline.ae/wp-content/uploads/Miral.jpeg)
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO of IIFA hosts Miral, impressed everyone by starting his address in Hindi. Wizcraft
That included Sara Ali Khan in crimson red attire, Ananya Panday in bright yellow, Tiger Shroff matching Kapoor in light shades of blue and Nora Fatehi in a greenish-brown sobering dress.
Initially Karan Johar was to host the event but the later dropped out when the IIFA had to deferred with the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Yet, Farah and Khurrana handled questions like a well-gelled unit of professionals and broke into one-liners and jokes naturally during an interaction with the media. Farah also revealed that “two years went off peacefully at home, spending time with the family, but I am getting that itch to make a film again.” Her last direction was in 2014 with Happy New Year.
Asked who was the boss among the two, given the fact that it was Khurrana who hosted the previous IIFA edition, both pointed at each other. Farah stated the obvious of IIFA being on Khurrana’s CV and the latter admitted, but added: “Yes I did conduct it with bhaiya [brother Ayushmann], but she has so many years of experience being on stage, and that matters a lot.”
Asked if the duo were nervous, both said they were well-prepared but they would be if the jokes do not land as they are hoping for.
The married couple of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai will also be among other stars to be spotted at the Etihad Arena.
Weekend schedule
IIFA Rocks
Hosts: Farah Khan Kunder & Aparshakti Khurana
Performers: Devi Sri Prasad, Tanishk Bagchi, Guru Randhawa, Honey Singh, Neha Kakkar, Dhvani Bhanushali, Zahrah S Khan, Dhvani Bhanushali, Asees Kaur
IIFA Awards
Hosts: Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh & Maniesh Paul
Performers: Shahid Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Divya Khosla Kumar and Nora Fatehi.
Journalist for 25 years with leading publications in India and UAE such as The National, Mumbai Mirror, DNA, Indian Express and former Sports Editor of eIndia.com. Now managing editor of Headline.ae, part of MEMc (https://www.memc.co)
Announcements
Global Village announces opening date for Season 29
Published
5 days agoon
September 3, 2024By
SudhashreeSeason 29 of Global Village will kick off on October 16, 2024, the outdoor destination announced. The season will run until May 11, 2025. The popular destination remains closed during the summer months. This year, Global Village is expanding its offerings, featuring more cultural representations, never-before-seen entertainment, and exciting infrastructure upgrades.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_Z2t2cNI40/?igsh=MTh1c3NvdGlqZW9yOQ%3D%3D
Visitors to the family-friendly destination can experience a diverse range of performances, shopping, and dining experiences from cultures around the world.
Opening more than 25 years ago, the destination set a new record of over 10 million visitors in its 28th season, the longest season to date, hosting 27 pavilions representing over 90 cultures from around the globe, as well as 3,500 shopping outlets and 250 dining options.
The destination is expecting millions of visitors from around the globe to gather for the park’s attractions during the upcoming season.
Announcements
Gaming meets speed: Ferrari launches first-ever esports arena in Abu Dhabi
Published
1 week agoon
September 1, 2024By
SudhashreeFerrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s acclaimed Ferrari-themed park, has once again redefined entertainment by launching the world’s first Ferrari-themed Esports Arena. This state-of-the-art venue is set to become the go-to destination for racing enthusiasts, Formula 1 aficionados, and thrill-seekers alike.
The newly unveiled Ferrari World Esports Arena features an impressive lineup of 20 Gran Turismo simulators, thoughtfully designed to cater to a broad audience. Fourteen simulators are dedicated to adult racers, while six are specifically designed for younger guests, creating a family-friendly atmosphere that welcomes visitors of all ages.
The arena also includes three specialised F1 simulators, offering participants the exhilarating experience of sitting in the driver’s seat of a Ferrari race car and racing on legendary F1 Grand Prix circuits, including the Yas Marina Circuit. Open daily from 10am to 6pm, the Ferrari World Esports Arena offers access to the Gran Turismo simulators as part of the theme park ticket until the end of the year. The exclusive F1 simulators are available for an additional fee, starting from Dh60 per race.
Announcements
Privacy and Comfort: Inside Sharjah’s newly announced women’s beach retreat
Published
2 weeks agoon
August 24, 2024By
SudhashreeA new beach, only for women, has been announced in Sharjah under the orders of the emirate’s ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. The 500-meter beach is located in the Lulu’iya area of Khorfakkan and will offer complete privacy for women. The beach will also have other amenities like a cafe, a medical clinic, and a prayer room.
Sharjah Ruler directs allocation of beach for women in Khorfakkan's Al Luluyah area#WamNews https://t.co/CrZULIUb3E pic.twitter.com/YmyKgyHxbj
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) August 22, 2024
Other than this beach, Sharjah has the Sharjah Ladies Club beach and in 2023, Sheikh Dr Sultan announced the development of women’s only beaches in Kalba and at Al Hamariya Beach. In May this year, the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed launched the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033, which includes designating new beaches for only women.
In further orders, the Sharjah Ruler directed the construction of a pedestrian bridge linking Al Bardi 6 and Al Batha areas in Khorfakkan city.
Speaking on the Sharjah’s Direct Line radio programme, Yousef Khamis Al Othmani, Chairman of RTA Sharjah said that the new bridge will help the movement of residents between the two areas.
He also said the RTA will implement modifications to the internal roads in the Hayawa area.