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  Newsmakers   In Madrid, Bajrangi and Bajirao bag top IIFA honours

In Madrid, Bajrangi and Bajirao bag top IIFA honours

Published : Jun 27, 2016, 1:45 am IST
Updated : Jun 27, 2016, 1:45 am IST

The Bollywood titans of 2015 — Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Bajirao Mastani — emerged victorious at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2016 with the Salman Khan-starrer winning best picture

Deepika Padukone
 Deepika Padukone

The Bollywood titans of 2015 — Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Bajirao Mastani — emerged victorious at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2016 with the Salman Khan-starrer winning best picture while Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus taking home best director gong. Director Kabir Khan heaped praise on his lead star as he accepted the best picture award at the 17th edition of the awards, held here.

“Thank you IIFA, thank you Salman for starring and also producing the movie. He let me do the film the way I wanted to.”

Bhansali was honoured with the award by his lead actors — Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.

“No other film of mine has got so much love like Bajirao. I am surprised to see how it has done so well this awards season. It is a special moment for me to get this awards by my three favourite actors. I don’t want to thank anyone for the film because a ‘thank you’ is not enough,” the director said. The historical romantic saga earned Ranveer the best actor trophy for his portrayal of the great Maratha warrior Peshwa Bajirao.

The actor began his acceptance speech by thanking his director but did not miss a chance to show his affection towards rumoured girlfriend Deepika. “I am so glad I won. I left Befikre shoot to come here. I have to thank Sanjay sir. I love you. There’s another special person I must thank. I was moved by her performance on Bajirao songs during the show. She is the Leeela to my Raam, Mastani to my Bajairao and I don’t know what’s next. Girl, you are so fine. Nothing makes me happier than you. I mean winning an award here with you,” the actor said.

From taking a dig at the CBFC, its chief Pahlaj Nihalani to poking fun at the last year’s ‘National Award returning’ controversy, actors Farhan Akhtar and Shahid Kapoor were in their element while hosting the 17th IIFA awards here. During their opening monologue, the duo, who reprised their Pappu and Raju avatars from earlier IIFA editions, touched upon the row that saw many filmmakers returning their National Awards to express solidarity with protesting FTII students.

“There were many controversies last year. The returning of award was one of them. So, this time we have decided that at IIFA we will have awards for returning of awards. The nominations are Farhan for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Riteish Deshmukh for Bangistan, Boman Irani for 3 Idiots,” Shahid said.

Location: Spain, Madrid