Stars leave for Colombo to attend IIFA

By ndtv.com

The Hindi film industry stands divided on the issue of whether to attend the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards. While some stars have declared that they won't be attending the award function, others like Lara Dutta, Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi and Boman Irani amongst others are in Colombo to attend IIFA. Here's a look...

Ex Miss Universe and Bollywood actress Lara Dutta arrives at the Mumbai airport to leave for Colombo.

Actor Riteish Deshmukh steps out of his car to catch a flight to Colombo.

Actor Boman Irani waves at the photographers just before leaving for Colombo.

Music composer and singer Salim Merchant arrives at the Mumbai airport.

Vivek Oberoi speaks to the media at the Mumbai airport just before leaving for Colombo.

Vikram Phadnis arrives at the Mumbai airport.

Lara Dutta goes in for a security check at the Mumbai airport.

Lara speaks to Boman Irani at the Mumbai airport.

Lara Dutta will be performing on stage at this year's IIFA.

Riteish Deshmukh gets ready to board the flight to Colombo.

Lara Dutta at the Mumbai airport.

Riteish waits near an eating joint at the Mumbai airport.

Lara at the Mumbai airport.

Vivek arrives at the Mumbai airport.

Salim Merchant at the Mumbai airport.

Lara Dutta arrives at the Mumbai airport.

Riteish poses for the shutterbugs just before leaving for Colombo.

Dia Mirza at the Mumbai airport.

Sharman Joshi at the Mumbai airport.

Zarine Khan at the Mumbai airport.

Manish Malhotra at the Mumbai airport.

Rocky S at the Mumbai airport.

Sonu Sood at the Mumbai airport.

Ronit Roy at the Mumbai airport.

Nandita Methani at the Mumbai airport.

Hansika Motwani at the Mumbai airport.

Salman, Jacqueline visit war-torn village in Sri Lanka

By ndtv.com

Bollywood star Salman Khan accompanied by Sri Lankan beauty queen Jacqueline Fernandez visited a project site to build homes for the people displaced by the three-decade long civil war. (Photo: AFP)

The 43-year-old actor, who is participating in the IIFA weekend said, "Many people lost their lives or have been displaced due to war and constructing 100 homes is a commendable and a good start." (Photo: AFP)

The construction of the homes in the village of Ja'ela is part of the IIFA's Charity initiative to rehabilitate those affected by war in the country. (Photo: AFP)

Salman said he identified with the aims of the initiative and had agreed to become the brand ambassador of the IIFA charity initiative because it works towards building a stronger community. (Photo: AFP)

"I am glad that IIFA is standing by this worthy project,” Salman Khan said. (Photo: AFP)

“I hope that this first step taken by IIFA will further motivate others to sign up and contribute to this project to build a 100 homes and put a roof on the heads of those who desperately require it," he said about 'Habitat for Humanity', an organisation initiated by former US president Jimmy Carter. (Photo: AFP)

As a symbol of solidarity with the Sri Lankan people, IIFA in partnership with the organisation will adopt and rebuild the village of Ja'ela. (Photo: AFP)

"The building of homes here is a symbolic gesture of contributing to the host country of Sri lanka and spreading the message of IIFA-one people, one world," Sabbas Joseph, director of Wizcraft, organisers of IIFA, said. (Photo: AFP)

IIFA splits Bollywood wide open

By ndtv.com

Bollywood seems to be divided on the issue of attending the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards scheduled to be held in Colombo from June 3-5. Amidst pressure on the Hindi film industry to skip the IIFA ceremony, some film stars have decided to give IIFA a miss while many others have confirmed that they will attend the event. Let's see who will attend and who won't…

Amitabh Bachchan:Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will not be attending the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards scheduled to be held in Colombo from June 3-5. "I am not going to IIFA," Bachchan tweeted in reply to a query about his plans. He did not provide any reason for his decision. 

Big B had earlier been targeted by Tamil groups who staged protests outside his residence in Mumbai last month and asked the actor to stay away from IIFA Colombo.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Aishwarya is also likely to give IIFA a miss this year as the actress is busy with other assignments.

Abhishek Bachchan:Abhishek too won't be attending the film festival.

Arjun Rampal: Arjun Rampal will not be attending IIFA as he is busy promoting his movie Raajneeti, which releases on June 4, 2010.

Shah Rukh Khan: King Khan has also decided to give IIFA a miss citing prior work commitments. SRK was also supposed to be the captain of Bollywood cricket team, which is scheduled to play a charity cricket match involving Indian and Sri Lankan movie and cricket stars.

Mani Ratnam: In May noted filmmaker Mani Ratnam announced his intention to stay away from IIFA Colombo. His forthcoming film Raavan was to be screened at the three-day event. Although Ratnam said he wouldn't be attending because Raavan was not complete, there are speculations he did not want to risk alienating the Tamil film industry by going to Sri Lanka this year. Ratnam had premiered his Yuva at IIFA 2004 in Singapore.

Kamal Haasan: Kamal Haasan had also issued a statement, announcing his decision to boycott IIFA, hours after a group of Tamils staged a demonstration in front of his office in Chennai, demanding his resignation as Chairman of Media and Enertainment Conclave of FICCI. Kamal said his move was not pursuant to the demonstration and he had taken the decision long back, giving respect to the sentiments of Tamils.

AR Rahman: Music maestro AR Rahman too won't be attending IIFA. Rahman has decided to boycott the award function to snub the Lankan Government for its "genocide against the Tamils".

Katrina Kaif: Katrina Kaif will not be attending IIFA this year as she is in Venice.

Despite all that oppositions, a lot of film stars have decided to grace the occasion. 

Salman Khan: Salman Khan, who is the brand ambassador of the IIFA Charity Initiative will be attending the award function. Recently, members of the Tamil community staged a protest in Mumbai against the actor's proposed visit to Sri Lanka. According to rumours Salman is also scheduled to perform at IIFA.

Priyanka Chopra:Priyanka Chopra too has confirmed that she will be attending IIFA this year.

Ranbir Kapoor: Ranbir Kapoor will also be a part of the prestigious award function.

Kareena Kapoor:Kareena Kapoor will attend the award function.

Saif Ali Khan: Saif Ali Khan will also be there to give his lady love company at IIFA this year.

Bipasha Basu: Bipasha will also be attending IIFA and will be performing some of her popular numbers there.

Lara Dutta: Lara Dutta has also confirmed that she will be attending IIFA.