KUALA LUMPUR, June 8:
“Haider”, Vishal Bhardwaj’s modern re-telling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Vikash Bahl’s coming-of-age drama “Queen” emerged as big winners at the 16th IIFA awards by taking home three trophies each, including best actress honour for Kangana Ranaut and best actor for Shahid Kapoor.
“Queen”, a middle-class girl’s journey of self discovery after getting ditched by her fiance, has been winning Kangana accolades all over. She already has a National Award in her kitty for the role. However, the actress was not present to accept the gong as she rarely attends award shows.
Shahid, 34, re-teamed with his “Kaminey” helmer for his career’s best role of a man deranged by grief and subsequent betrayal by his close ones.
The actor dedicated his award to Bhardwaj for giving him the opportunity and called the film “scary”.
“I would like to thank Vishal Bhardwaj for this recognition. A very big thank you to him for believing in me. Today I am standing here because of him. It was a scary film to do because we thought people will never love and understand this,” said the actor in his acceptance speech.
Earlier, Shahid, one of the best dancers in Bollywood, took to stage to give a power-packed performance on “Bismil”.
Tabu, who played Shahid’s mother in “Haider”, won the best supporting actress award for her multi-layered performance, while co-star Kay Kay Menon bagged the trophy for best negative role for his portrayal of a shrewd politician.
“Queen” won the award for best picture and story (Bahl, Chaitally Parmar and Parvez Shaikh) apart from the best actress trophy.
Anurag Kashyap, one of the producers and editor of the film, expressed his love for fellow director Rajkumar Hirani, while receiving the best movie trophy for “Queen”.
“I don’t know what to say. I love you Raju sir (Rajkumar Hirani). I don’t know how this film happened and it happened somehow. When we started the film we didn’t have any money…,” he said.
Hirani won the best director gong for Aamir Khan-starrer “PK”, a satire on Godmen, after beating Bahl (‘Queen’), Bhardwaj (‘Haider’), Abhishek Varman (‘2 States’) and Imtiaz Ali (‘Highway’).
“This film fearlessly talked about religion in the country and I want to thank my father and mother for it. Like Subhash Ghai, I also feel a film is incomplete without the help of technicians and actors,” Hirani said.
Deepika Padukone, who was nominated in the best actress category for her stint as a dance teacher in the multi-starrer “Happy New Year”, took home the Woman of the Year award.
The 29-year-old actress dedicated the honour to women across the globe.
“This award is for millions of women,” said the “Finding Fanny” star, who looked gorgeous in a black and maroon saree.
Bollywood’s showman Subhash Ghai was honoured with the Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema recognition. It was presented to him by his “Ram Lakhan” stars Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor.
“I am going through so many emotions right now. I have so many memories. Over the years one learns, rises and falls.
“This is one of the most wonderful evenings for someone like me, to receive so much love and adulation. I have so many stories to share. I think success and awards are a trap. You achieve these for your past work but then you are expected to keep up that work,” he said in his acceptance speech. (PTI)
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