'Dabangg,' 'My Name is Khan' dominate IIFA awards in Toronto - Bollywood Movie & Celebrity News

'Dabangg,' 'My Name is Khan' dominate IIFA awards in Toronto

Dabangg was the big winner at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards—often called "Bollywood's Oscars"—which were held in Toronto, Canada in June—the first time the event has ever taken place in North America. Dabangg, an homage to old-time masala films, picked up six awards, including best film.

Hollywood stars Hillary Swank and Cuba Gooding Jr. were presenters at the ceremony. A-list Indian stars, including Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Kangana Ranaut, and Shilpa Shetty, performed dance numbers for the sold-out live audience of 22,000. An estimated 700 million television viewers watched the awards gala.

Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, about the 1970s Mumbai underworld, had led the field with 12 nominations, including Ajay Devgn for best actor and Emraan Hashmi for best supporting actor, but garnered only one win—Prachi Desai for best supporting actress. Dabangg followed with 11 nominations, including Salman Khan for best actor.

But Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn lost out—along with Guzaarish's Hrithik Roshan and Raajneeti's Ranbir Kapoor—to Shahrukh Khan for his role in My Name is Khan, a love story set in post-9/11 America. My Name is Khan's Karan Johar won best director.

Anushka Sharma claimed the best actress award for her performance in the romantic comedy Band Baaja Baaraat. The best supporting actor award went to Arjun Rampal for his turn in the political thriller Raajneeti.

The IIFA awards ceremony, which honors artistic and technical achievement in the Hindi film industry known as Bollywood, takes place in a different city outside of India every year in an effort to promote Hindi cinema around the world. In past years, it has been held in London, Dubai, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, and Bangkok.

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June 26, 2011