Salman Khan walks the IIFA Rocks stage showstopper of Manish Malhotra Iulia Vantur performs
Yas Island in Abu Dhabi was the stunning venue for IIFA Rocks 2023, which witnessed a breath-taking celebration comprising fun, glamour, delightful acts, and surprises with mesmerising performances all under one roof at the grandest celebration of Indian Cinema, the International Indian Film Academy and Awards (IIFA), in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences.
With exciting performances by Amit Trivedi, Badshah, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhbir Singh, Palak Muchhal & Iulia Vantur Sobha Realty IIFA Rocks was presented by Farah Khan and Rajkummar Rao. The musical spectacular began with a dance performance by Palak Muchhal, who was followed by Farah Khan, who also danced her way into the platform. Rajkummar Rao took the stage while playing the song ‘Main Hoon Na’, and the two recreated a scene from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in which they both greeted the crowd and engaged in witty conversation about friendship.
Sunidhi Chauhan, Badshah, along with Jacqueline Fernandez, Rakul Preet Singh and Nora Fatehi gave enthralling performances later in the evening. Amit Trivedi captivated the audience as he performed with Arun Kamat, Devendra Palse, Meghna Mishra, and Yashita Sharma. Everyone even danced to the dhols of Sukhbir Singh and Iulia Vantur with Nucleya, bringing the evening to a thrilling conclusion.
One of the key highlights of IIFA Rocks was a special collection showcased by Bollywood’s favourite designer Manish Malhotra. The collection reflected ‘old world charm meets the new world’ that was breakthrough and imaginative and had Salman Khan and Nora Fatehi as the showstoppers for the evening.
The IIFA Rocks evening honoured the Technical Category winners which included categories like cinematography, screenplay, dialogue, editing, choreography, sound design, sound mixing, background score, and special effects (visuals).
Speaking about the show, Ravi Menon, Co-chairman of Sobha Realty who are the title sponsor, said, “We are delighted to be the title sponsors of the 23rd edition of IIFA Weekend. The event will witness the presence of the who’s who of the Indian film industry with the glitz and glamour that makes Indian cinema widely popular. With a rich culture of performing arts in our nation itself, we are honoured to recognize and celebrate the long-standing allure of Indian cinema and its outstanding contributors. Indian films are watched across the world, and we are pleased to welcome the numerous actors, artists, and talents of our nation, further bringing Indian cinema to a global audience. IIFA Awards recognizes the highest quality and artistic expressions in the Indian film sector, just like we at Sobha Realty recognize the value of quality, art, and design in our work.”
The event was held at the Middle East’s largest state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue, Etihad Arena, part of Yas Bay Waterfront on Yas Island. IIFA will broadcast exclusively on Colors. Speaking about the partnership, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head – Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids’ TV Network, Viacom18 said, “We, at COLORS, are delighted to partner with IIFA yet again to celebrate the excellence of Indian Cinema. Our long-standing partnership with this prestigious award showcases our commitment to recognising the cinematic brilliance and storytelling prowess of the Indian film industry on a global scale. We are thrilled to present to our viewers at COLORS and COLORS Cineplex an entertainment extravaganza filled with spectacular performances and glamour.”