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Not just a celebration of cinema

Madhur Tankha

"A movement to bridge the gap among communities"

NEW DELHI: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event that began as a mere celebration of Indian cinema overseas has now become a movement to bridge the widening gap among communities, people and countries, says Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Countdown begins

As the countdown begins for the eighth edition of the IIFA show at Yorkshire next month, Mr. Bachchan is looking forward to his visit to the picturesque Yorkshire once again as IIFA's brand ambassador. He is also eager to give the go-ahead to a celebrity cricket match between an IIFA celebrity team comprising top Bollywood film stars and a Yorkshire XI comprising Members of Parliament and cricketers.

Stating that IIFA was aimed at making the world a better place to live in, Mr. Bachchan said this year the Academy has tied-up with Global Cool to highlight the dangers of global warming.

"According to a United Nations report, we have eight years left to repair ourselves from the harmful effects of global warming. That is too short a time but all of us can take small but significant steps to curb it. India is a progressing country and we are affected by global warming," said the superstar at a press conference in neighbouring Gurgaon on Tuesday.

Pointing out that he hasn't won a single award after attending IIFA, actor Anil Kapoor said: "I won two awards when I didn't attend the first event, but I have been regularly attending other events but to no avail." To this, Mr. Bachchan quipped that Anil should change the colour of his French beard and he would once again start winning awards at IIFA.

Bollywood's answer to Oscars

Described as Bollywood's answer to the Oscars, the four-day mega event opening on June 7 will see leading stars from tinsel town as well as business heavyweights descending on Yorkshire.

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