The IIFA Utsavam 2024 kicked off in grand style at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on Friday. This segment of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, hosted by South film stars Rana Daggubati and Teja Sajja, celebrated the best of the South Indian film industry. Among the night’s top honorees were director Mani Ratnam and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, both recognized for their work in Ponniyin Selvan: II.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan won the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Nandini in the historical epic, while Mani Ratnam received the Best Director award for the same film. A particularly touching moment occurred during the ceremony when Aishwarya greeted Mani Ratnam on stage by touching his feet, a traditional gesture of respect in Indian culture, before the two shared a warm hug. The emotional moment went viral after being shared by IIFA’s official Instagram account with the caption, “Aishwarya and Mani Ratnam, the perfect duo.”
Aishwarya and Mani Ratnam have a long history of collaboration, having worked together on notable films like Iruvar, Ravan, and Guru, in addition to the Ponniyin Selvan series. The bond between the two was evident as they shared the stage with actor Chiyaan Vikram and music legend AR Rahman, both of whom were also part of the Ponniyin Selvan team. The group posed for a series of pictures, with one showing Aishwarya and Mani Ratnam proudly holding their awards, and another capturing them smiling ear-to-ear.
Aishwarya’s presence at IIFA Utsavam marks another busy stop on her September schedule, which included appearances at the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) in Dubai and walking the ramp at Paris Fashion Week. On Friday, she arrived in Abu Dhabi with her daughter Aaradhya, and the IIFA Instagram handle shared a picture of the two checking into the city with the caption, “The stunning Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has arrived in Abu Dhabi Yas Island for Nexa IIFA Utsavam 2024.”
The main IIFA awards night is scheduled for today, September 28, where Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Vicky Kaushal will take the stage as hosts. The three-day extravaganza will conclude on September 29 with the star-studded IIFA Rocks event.
Sources By Agencies
