Shahid Kapoor launches abof's athleisure fashion brand SKULT

abof launches India’s first athleisure fashion brand: SKULT by Shahid Kapoor

Mumbai, India, October 18, 2016 – abof has announced the launch of India’s first athleisure fashion brand, SKULT, exclusively on its portal. This brand is in partnership with actor Shahid Kapoor, who has built an iconic reputation amongst India’s youth through movies such as Udta Punjab, Haider, and Jab We Met. SKULT, built on the principle of ‘Fashion meets functionality and Design meets Innovation’, is an evolved style of athleisure which draws inspiration from all around the world but adapted for Indian sensibilities and body types.

Athleisure is a huge trend globally. It is a completely new genre of fashion being introduced by abof to Indian millennials in its continued efforts to be a differentiated player in a market cluttered with discounts. In athleisure, clothes are designed to be sturdy to withstand vigorous routines, yet they are trendy and versatile to be worn everywhere. The fashion needs of millennials have changed in last one decade where comfort wear has permeated in routine life. Youth in India today wants to dress down in everyday wear which is casual yet chic. Identifying the void in Indian wardrobes and taking the idea forward, abof.com has taken this street-wear hybrid trend to next level with the launch of SKULT which stands for Shahid + Cult. SKULT’s athleisure collection is unconventional, highly voguish, yet easy to carry and more importantly reminds consumer something about Shahid’s personality in each of its piece.

The atypical ‘Athleisure’ collection by Skult has been designed in-house by abof and has taken more than a year to work on this brand and its products. Commenting on his idea of SKULT, Shahid said, “Skult is about free styling. Skult is about fashion and functionality. Skult is about being yourself wherever you are. It's about apparel that's an extension of your body. That allows you to express yourself with no restrictions or rules. Sometimes clothes that are cool feel too restricting. This line sets you free. Own style. Don't let style restrict you”.

The collection of SKULT is absolutely enthralling with never before seen silhouettes and designs. SKULT is crafted to suit all occasions - work, casual or social.  There is no other brand in India that offers anything even remotely close to the range of SKULT. The collection has strong emphasis on black, grey, nude and monochromatic tones. The offbeat, yet trendy brand has a wide variety of merchandise for men in its launch season with over 250 options, which includes internationally trending categories like meggings and shackets. Apart from bringing these never-heard-before categories in India, even the regular categories have intricate detailing - like thumb holes, drop shoulder jackets, scoop hem tees, long line tees with drawcord - which makes the collection really stand out. SKULT has used high-performance yet very lightweight fabrics - cotton viscose, slub jersey, grindles, melanges, snow heather, terry, lycra denim, cotton satin, and popcorn knit – with the single-minded objective to make it really comfortable. The line also consists of 50 key pieces under ‘SKULT SIGNATURE’ where each piece has been crafted by the actor himself.

“Shahid is a youth icon who is admired for his style. We are extremely excited to partner with him in creating India’s first athleisure fashion brand which combines the actor’s love for ‘fun and comfortable’ dressing", said Kedar Apshankar, Deputy CEO, abof.com. “Athleisure is the new age clothing and we believe that comfort twined with hi-class fashion will take SKULT to great heights. The collection is exceptionally promising and refreshingly on-point. I am confident that this brand and its collection will be embraced by millennials and replace a large part of regular clothes in their wardrobes”, he added.

All you want to know about Shahid and his Tattoos from Udta Punjab!

Shahid has gone beyond the usual to look like Tommy Singh in Udta Punjab. The actor has personally given inputs and has worked extensively on his look with the stylists and Abhishek Chaubey.

Infact, for the first time we would witness the actor don tattoo for his role, Shahid’s first look that shows several tatoos on his body has an interesting story behind it. Shahid who was on a low carb diet went through hours  to put and remove 40 odd tattoos daily for Tommy Singh!!

It was a tedious process of donning 40 such odd tattoos and then removing them before every shot….however Shahid made sure that nothing was a miss! The actor has also given inputs when the look was being finalised, sitting with the stylist team and director Abhishek Chaubey, Shahid has spent hours to get the perfect feel of a punjabi rockstar!

Shahid as an actor uses his physical transformation to talk about the character. Whether it’s his lean body or tattoo or the way he walks / conducts himself they are all subtlety creating nuances of a character.

Read the full article at: http://www.filmytown.com/shahid-kapoor-tattoos-udta-punjab/

Shahid goes Chameleon, again!

Shahid Kapoor, along with co-star Kangana Ranaut, director Vishal Bhardwaj and a braveheart unit, has just returned from a gruelling three-week schedule of Rangoon. 

The Casablanca-like love story is set during the Second World War, and producer Sajid Nadiadwala, managed a coup of sorts by getting permission to shoot in virgin locales of Arunachal Pradesh where the Indo-Burma border was recreated.

The crew was staying in a hotel in Rottung and while the locations are picture-perfect, the living conditions were at best spartan even for the stars. 

But neither of them complained, even though Kangana is playing a diva of the '40s. Even the nawab, Saif Ali Khan, who was down for a couple of days, soldiered through long drives to and between Pasighat, Rottung and Kibang, sometimes an eight nine-hour journey one way, and long treks through jungles.

Since the sun rises in the east, days dawned early and it was action from 4 am. But they also packed up early, around 4-5 pm, once the light faded. And as there wasn't much to do except for work, everyone would be in bed by 8 pm.

Shahid couldn't skip his workouts as he plays a soldier in the film and needed to be in peak physical condition for the action scenes. He's never been fitter.

Vishal Bharadwaj's Rangoon also marks Shahid's hatrick with the director who has already worked on 2 hit films previously! 

Rangoon is produced by filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala and features Shahid with Saif Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut in lead roles. The film is all set to release on October 14, 2016.

Shaandaar's trailer sets a benchmark

Shaandaar's trailer surpasses the views garnered by the trailer of Baahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan and garners the highest views in the recent times. 

The makers of Shaandaar shared the glimpses of the film through its trailer which released early last month.

The films trailer garnered tremendous positive response from its audiences.

Within minutes of its release, Shaandaar was trending on all social media platforms.

The trailer has gained massive viewership on Youtube too.

Shaandaar's trailer crossing the 10 million mark has surpassed the views garnered by record breaking films like Baahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

The film has been receiving immense love from its audiences and the numbers are suggestive of that.

The coming together of Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt for the film has created a buzz ever since its announcement.

With the audiences witnessing the chemistry between the pair through its trailer and subsequent song releases, the curiosity is growing by the day.

Shaandaar, Directed by Vikas Bahl is all set to release on October 22nd, 2015.

Jagjinder-Alia to have a secret meet tomorrow?

News is that the two insomniacs, Jagjinder and Alia are to meet tomorrow, midnight for some unfinished business.

The duo have decided to meet in the suburbs in the early hours of the night.

The topic of discussion is a mystery, however the presence of the duo is confirmed by the sources.

It is a known fact that they both suffer from insomnia.

Scheduling a meeting in the night leads to many suspicions.

What is it that Jagjinder and Alia want to discuss? Why midnight? What's the secret? are some of the many questions arising in the minds of the audiences.

The duo had previously created a buzz by launching a Shaandaar trailer of their film which was followed by a series of Shaandaar songs.

The audiences have been eagerly awaiting the film's release ever since.

After releasing the song 'Gulaabo' in which they are seen dancing away in the middle of the night, their nocturnal activities continued with the release of the second song Shaam Shaandaar, where they were seen celebrating in the evening, the recently released track from the film ,Nazdeekiyan was launched by them when the clock struck 1 in the night.

Both young personalities are creating a stir amidst their audiences with their nocturnal activities.

Jagjinder and Alia are to soon present to the audiences their "Shaandaar" romcom tale on October 22nd, 2015.

Shaandaar's 'Gulaabo' song creates history!!

The song has received more than 2.6 million views in just 18 hours.

The hugely anticipated song 'Gulaabo' song from Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer Shaandaar has created history. The song has received a 'shaandaar' response by audiences thanks to the music partner, Zee Music Company's aggressive promotional strategy. Watch the Gulabo song here -  

Click on the above image for the video:
http://youtu.be/ufGLdU2xyE4

Yesterday, Shahid and Alia launched the song with the film's director Vikas Bahl as the duo treated newspersons to a live performance that set the stage on fire.

Based against the backdrop of the Shaandaar wedding, the film is an out-and-out youthful love story focussing on two characters Alia (played by Alia Bhatt) and Jagjinder Joginder (played by Shahid). Alia's father Bipin (played by Pankaj Kapur) adds the twist to their romance as he believes there’s no guy that will be good enough for his daughter while Alia is a dreamer. Jagjinder Joginder is a doer and he feels he can make anything happen! And for obvious reasons Bipin hates Jagjinder Joginder.

Presented by Fox Star Studios, Shaandaar is produced by Dharma Productions and Phantoms Films.

Shaandaar releases on October 22, 2015, Dussehra date.

Shraddha Kapoor wants Shahid Kapoor's feedback on her dance film

Shraddha Kapoor is keen on showing her upcoming film ABCD 2 to her co star of Haider, Shahid Kapoor.

The young actress will be seen in Remo D’Souza's upcoming dance film and this will be the first time we will see the actress showcase her dancing skills on the silver screen.

The actress may not be a known dancer earlier but she has passionately prepared for this role. Shraddha put in months of dedicated hardwork for this role.

It has been a very special journey for her and the actress wants her Haider co star Shahid Kapoor to watch the film and give her feedback on the same.

It is a known fact that Shahid Kapoor is one of the best dancers in the industry and Shraddha wants to have his feedback on the film.

Shraddha shares, "Yes, i want to show the film to Shahid. He is a fabulous dancer so his feedback on the film will be very valuable."

STAR-STUDDED VIDEOCON d2h IIFA WEEKEND 2015 ALL SET TO TAKE KUALA LUMPUR BY STORM

BOLLYWOOD’S FINEST SLATED TO BE PART OF THE 16^TH IIFA WEEKEND

ANIL KAPOOR,FARHAN AKHTAR, SHAHID KAPOOR, ARJUN KAPOOR, RANVEER SINGH, PRIYANKA CHOPRA, JACQUELINE FERNANDES,ANUSHKA SHARMA, SONAKSHI SINHA,CHITRANGADA SINGH, PARINEETI CHOPRA, BIPASHA BASU, RITEISH DESHMUKH& MANY MORE TO FOLLOW

TICKETS TO THE IIFA 2015 AWARDS NOW OPEN FOR SALE

New Delhi 15th May 2015: The 16th edition of the most spectacular celebration of Indian Cinema globally, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards today announced the hosts for some of IIFA’s most awaited sub-events and performances that will take place at the IIFA Weekend this year. The Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend & Awards will take place at Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 5-7 June 2015.

What started off as a one night awards show has grown into a mega three day weekend extravaganza in order to accommodate the myriad magical elements that Indian Cinema has to offer. The IIFA movement has taken the world by storm by bringing a spectacular weekend to a new locale every year filled to the brim with film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases and premieres, global business forums and sporting events.

The IIFA Weekend this year will also see a night exclusively dedicated to fashion which will be hosted by Friend of IIFA, Neha Dhupia. IIFA Rocks, the exclusive music extravaganza will see a host of fantastic musical performances by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Mika, Ankit Tiwari, Kanika Kapoor, Jawed Ali and theNooran sisters. Superstars Jacqueline Fernandes, Aditi Rao Hydari, Lisa Hayden and Lauren Gotlieb will also take the IIFA Rocks stage for some incredible performances.

At the 16th Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend, the IIFA Gala Screening on 6th June in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will feature the highly awaited star-studded film Dil Dhadakne Do. The film is a bittersweet comedy drama about a family that takes a trip which changes them forever. With an ensemble cast of Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Farhan Akhtar and Anushka Sharma, the film is directed byZoya Akhtar and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar.

Speaking on the occasion, Andre Timmins, Director – Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, said, “We have some incredible performances all set for the IIFA stage this year including some of the biggest stars of Bollywood in film as well as music. Huge preparations are on to manage the backend, airlines, hotels, different venues and other logistics and we are happy that the Malaysian Government is laying the red carpet to make this a spectacular event.”

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Kapoor, Actor and Friend of IIFA said “Through time, IIFA has grown from a mega awards ceremony into an iconic global platform for Indian films and culture while showcasing to the world the best that Indian cinema has to offer. I am looking forward to the film media briefing of Dil Dhadakne Do which will be a part of the Weekend this year and I am delighted to see IIFA return to Malaysia, this timeto the vivacious city of Kuala Lumpur.”

Saurabh Dhoot – Executive Chairman, Videocon d2h said, “Videocon d2h has had an extremely successful innings with IIFA and we are pleased to continue this association with them for the 4th year. The common link of wholesome entertainment brings IIFA and Videocon d2h together. Our recent listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange, bears testimony to our global outlook & tremendous growth. Videocon d2h will continue to bring unique content, new mediums of delivery and innovative services to our consumers.”

The event will be telecast on India’s leading Hindi entertainment channel Colors with foot printsin over 140 countries.

Raj Nayak – CEO, Colors said, that “IIFA is the World’s biggest Global Indian Event, where the entire industry comes together to showcase Bollywood & India.  We at Colors are proud to be associated with IIFA and we promise our viewers, in true Colors style Bollywood entertainment like never before.”

Mr. Anil Khera – CEO, Videocon d2h said, “We thank our 6.5 crore consumers for making us India’s Fastest Growing DTH Service. IIFA is a pioneer in recognizing excellence in entertainment and Videocon d2h blends perfectly with the platform due to relentless desire to innovate & excel with a winning attitude. We are committed to providing the best technology to our consumers and delighting them always. Our continued partnership with IIFA is an endeavor to strengthen this association and take the wholesome entertainment experience across the globe.”

Speaking on the association with IIFA, Mr Pankaj Munjal, Co Chairman and Managing Director of Hero Cycles said, “IIFA awards are one of the most eminent and widely popular awards for Hindi cinema. We are pleased to associate with this mega event as cause partners for our campaign 'Cycling Heroes'. We believe this is a great opportunity to connect to a larger audience to spread the message of taking up cycling to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyle of the present generation is one of the biggest causes of many lifestyle diseases. It is our endeavour to encourage people, across various age groups to take up cycling as their first step towards staying fit”

Tony Nagamaiah, General Manager of Malaysia Major Events said “As excitement heightens, we are proud to host the 16th IIFA Celebrations 2015 and welcome its entire contingent to Malaysia. Being host city, Kuala Lumpur anticipates the weekend’s buzz as it shall be among our biggest showcases for the year in conjunction with the Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFest) 2015. The city's dazzling setting will imprint the Bollywood family and fans with spectacular experiences in a truly diverse environment.”

According to Malaysia Airlines’ Regional Senior Vice President, South Asia & Middle East, Mr. Azahar Hamidsaid, “It is an honour for Malaysia Airlines to be a part of this glamorous event and flying in some of the best Bollywood stars to our home ground, Kuala Lumpur. The airline’s extensive network and world-class service makes it a desirable partnership with IIFA.

“It is our commitment to provide the best service and we look forward to welcoming the celebrities from the Indian Film Industry and fans of the IIFA awards on-board Malaysia Airlines,” he added.

Tickets for the biggest celebration of Indian Cinema abroad are available for sale. Log on towww.myticket.asia or call 03-8080 8700 or 017 2447139. Patrons wishing to purchase VIP Hospitality Tickets can send an email to viphospitality@iifa.com.

IIFA Awards 2015 will be held at Stadium Putra, the Official Hospitality Partner is JW Marriot/The Ritz Carlton, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines is the Official Airline Partner for the 16th edition of the IIFA celebrations.

Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd promotes the IIFA Weekend & Awards globally each year and travel to new, exciting and beautiful destinations, taking the film fraternity with it to unite and celebrate the best of Indian film and culture, thereby taking Indian Cinema& India to a wider audience.

About IIFA (International Indian Film Academy)

Conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and supported by the key members of the Indian film fraternity, IIFA is the most appreciated South Asian film academy. Also, the IIFA Awards is India's biggest media event. With a viewership of almost 800 million, it is among the world's most-watched annual entertainment events. From a one night celebration in 2000 at the Millennium Dome, London, the last sixteen years have seen the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) movement grow into a cine-packed weekend of film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases and global business forums, all of which climax into the highlight of the Weekend, the IIFA Awards. www.iifa.com

Kevin Spacey, John Travolta join IIFA Celebrations

VIDEOCON D2H IIFA WEEKEND CULMINATES CELEBRATION OF INDIAN CINEMA IN TAMPA BAY WITH 15TH TATA MOTORS IIFA AWARDS

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag take home highest accolades at the 15th Tata Motors IIFA Awards

Deepika Padukone and Farhan Akhtar win lead actor Awards

International Actors Kevin Spacey & John Travolta join in the Celebrations   26th April, 2014, Tampa Bay: The 15th Tata Motors IIFA Awards surpassed expectations with a spectacular show that saw the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag nab the top Awards of the night including Best Picture, Best Direction, Performance in Leading Role (Male), Performance in a Supporting Role (Female) and Best Story. Aashiqui 2 bagged awards for Music Direction, Lyrics, Playback Singer (Male) and Playback Singer (Female).  Deepika Padukone won the Award for her much acclaimed role in Chennai Express while Farhan Akhtar won for his role in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.   

Celebrating the magic of Indian Cinema, the Tata Motors IIFA Awards was held at the Raymond James Stadium where actors, Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akthar played host for the second time. The duo kept the audience entertained throughout the evening with their humour, wit and laudable on-stage camaraderie with sets varying from a celebrity antakshri to a live-rap with the audience (Raju & Pappu) to them being dressed as spirited pirates.   

Some of the highlights of the evening were the launch of IIFA Coffee Table Book by the Founder- Directors of Wizcraft International Entertainment – Andre Timmins, Sabbas Joseph and Viraf Sarkari along with superstar Hrithik Roshan.    International actors John Travolta and Kevin Spacey shook a leg on popular Bollywood hits. Kevin Spacey was brought on stage by Shahid, Farhan and Deepika to join them for a little jig to Lungi Dance while John Travolta joined Priyanka Chopra on stage at the end of her act and later joined Hrithik matching moves with celebrity dancer-actor, Hrithik Roshan.   

On having won the Performance in a Leading Role (Female), Deepika Padukone said, “2013 was an amazing year for me. I left home with a suitcase and a dream and I thank my parents for allowing me to follow my dream.”   Farhan Akhtar on winning the award for Performance in a Leading Role (Male) said, “This is a very special moment as it is the first time I’m receiving an award for the film in the presence of Milkha Singh. He shared a lot of amazing stories with me and was the wind beneath my wings. I am very honoured today.”

Full IIFA report, winners list and More pics at:    http://www.filmytown.com/ 

Shahid Kapoor excited to meet John Travolta

As Shahid Kapoor gets set to host an upcoming awards ceremony for the third year in a row, he is looking forward to something else too. 

The actor will get to meet Hollywood star John Travolta, who is being honored at the event, which is on in the US.

Shahid is excited to meet and interact with Travolta. He had only hosted the ceremony in the last two years, but this time he will get to speak with Travolta on the stage.

As he is an ardent fan of Travolta, Shahid is hoping to spend some time with him backstage at the show which takes place today (April 26).

Shahid started his career in the entertainment industry as a background dancer in Shaimak Davar’s company. He’s also known for his slick moves in songs such as ‘Gandi baat’, ‘Sari ke fall sa’ and ‘Agal bagal’. 

Shahid has trained in dancing for many years. His songs and dance moves are popular with his fans. Travolta, too, is known to be a great dancer and his moves in Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978) and Pulp Fiction (1994), where he danced with Uma Thurman, are popular even today.

When contacted, Shahid’s spokesperson confirms the news, and says, “Shahid has left for the show and is doubly excited because of his upcoming meeting with John Travolta.

More Bollywood news, Film reviews and more pics at:  
http://www.filmytown.com

Shahid Kapoor's luck colour is Red, and number - 7

Shahid Kapoor is passionate about cars and especially Red colour. 

He has recently bought a red Porsche in addition to his earlier Red Jaguar. What people are not aware that all his cars have a similar number plate and show case number 7. 

Insiders says that while Shahid is not superstitious at all he finds the number 7 his lucky number. 

Ironically he shares this luck with another Bollywood star. 

Even Aamir Khan finds number 7 lucky and all his cars sports the same number plate. 

While Shahid Kapoor car number is 7000 and Aamir's car number is 007. 

Film reviews and more pics at:  http://www.filmytown.com

Shahid Kapoor is a music enthusiast along with being a fabulous actor and dancer

Last year on impulse Shahid stepped behind the console at one of the parties and since then he has been enthusiastic about learning the craft.

He has been managing music at parties he has attended in the recent past but now he is keen to do it in a through manner. So much so that now Shahid has bought a console for himself.

Shahid has stationed the console in his living room. It is heavy equipment connected to the speakers in his living room.

Shahid spends his free time behind the console these days mixing music and trying music variations.

Before getting a console Shahid actively read about the equipment and software’s.

He was planning to buy it for a while but his work commitments kept him at bay.

Shahid has also been adding and arranging his music collection. On his recent vacation Shahid also met various international DJ’s and chatted with them on new songs, varied music preferences, music festivals etc.  

Shahid often connects with people on music and actively talks to them about the songs they like. He is always on the lookout for new songs and follows music apps, stays updated with international sound tracks. 

THE “IIFA INVASION” OF AMERICA: 25 days to go!

 -  IIFA’s best performer, Hrithik Roshan to perform at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa

-  Host duo, Shahid Kapoor & Farhan Akthar are back to host the Tata Motors IIFA Awards

-  Over a 100 CEO’s from India to attend the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum

Thursday, 27^th March, 2014 -

As a part of the ongoing preparations, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) held a press conference in Mumbai today, attended by superstars Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar. Come April, the Indian Film fraternity will take the United States by storm, as the 15^th edition of the IIFA Weekend and Awards will play out from the 23^rd to 26^th in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Tampa Bay will bear witness to superstar, Hrithik Roshan’s signature moves as the ace performer takes to the Tata Motors IIFA Awards this year.  Speaking on his performance, Hrithik said, “I have been a part of many IIFAs where I have performed at different locales. IIFA was in fact my first international performance and something I have always treasured. I am honoured to be a part of this major milestone in IIFA’s journey as they venture into the United States of America, showcasing our film industry in Tampa Bay this year.” Roshan has previously performed at IIFA in Sun City, Singapore and Colombo. This will be his first performance in the US in a decade.

Announcing the winners of the Zest for Stardom Contest, Ms. Delna Avari, Head-Marketing Communications, Passenger Vehicles, Tata Motors said, “Close on the heels of unveiling The ZEST, a true dynamic sedan, from Tata Motors that meshes killer instinct with elegance, we announced the ‘ZEST for Stardom’ on February 26, 2014, in association with IIFA. The response to this unique contest was overwhelming, with entries pouring from all over the globe, including USA. Owing to the phenomenal response we have received, it is our pleasure to announce that there will be not one but three winners, two winners from India and one from USA. We are delighted to announce that Mr. Himanshu Singh and Ms. Pallavi Kalra –from India and Mr. Mohit Batra, from USA are the lucky winners of the Zest for Stardom contest who have been bestowed with a golden opportunity to share the Tata Motors IIFA Stage with actor, Ranveer Singh.”

This year, the Tata Motors IIFA Awards will see the reappearance of one of its best hosting duos, actors Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar. After their successful hosting stint in Singapore, the actors will reprise their roles this year. Speaking on hosting the Tata Motors IIFA Awards, actor Farhan Akhtar said, “IIFA’s exalted platform has always given me an adrenaline rush. Having received immense love and appreciation for my previous stint as host, I am excited at the prospects of hosting another year of the spectacular celebration.” Playing host for the third year running, Actor, Shahid Kapoor added, “Hosting IIFA always makes me happy, as it as a chance to interact with the entire film fraternity that gathers together, IIFA is the most prestigious award ceremony which honors the best of our Industry.”

Dance guru, Shiamak Davar will also be a part of IIFA this year as the event’s official choreographer. Renowned for some of the biggest dance performances including his highly acclaimed work on India’s first musical ‘Zangoora’, Tampa Bay will mark Shiamak’s 11^th year with IIFA,

Going beyond entertainment, IIFA has long been committed to building bridges between India and the global arena as it strides across the world.  With the trade relationship between the U.S. and India at its peak, the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum creates a perfect opportunity for exchange. This forum will bring together business leaders from India and America to explore new economic opportunities, providing a platform for Indians and Americans to engage in discussion and professional development. Hosted by the University of South Florida College of Business, the forum will be a two-day event on the theme - "Indo-U.S. Partnership: A Catalyst for Economic Growth". Eminent speakers of the event include Rick Scott- Governor of Florida, Bob Buckhorn, Mayor - Tampa City, Vivek Lall- President & CEO, Reliance Industries Ltd, N.R Narayana Murthy Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Infosys, Dr. R. K Pachauri- TERI Chairman and Chairman United Nations Panel on Climate Change among others.

Another IIFA initiative, the IIFA Expo is a world fair to be held at the Tampa Convention Center, Florida from 24th to 26th April 2014. Bringing business, products and services from India and USA under one roof, the expo will provide a unique platform to unlock opportunities for businesses and communities, thereby promoting trade and commerce between two countries and cultures.

Mr. Saurabh Dhoot – Director, Videocon group, on this association stated, “In our sixth year of successful association, Videocon d2h along with IIFA, shares a similar outlook of promoting excellence in entertainment. The focus of both IIFA and Videocon d2h is adding variety and value in its entertainment quotient.  Videocon d2h which is now Asia’s Most Promising DTH brand strives to provide the best viewing experience in Asli HD through its DTH services and now reaches more than 10 million homes. We provide a very good platform for IIFA as well to reach out to this discerning audience.”

Commenting on its partnership with IIFA, Hari Om Rai, Chairman & Managing Director, LAVA Internationalsaid, “We are proud to be associated with IIFA for the second consecutive year; IIFA offers us a great platform to demonstrate the true essence of our products that are a perfect fusion of looks, experience & performance. With this association we reinforce our brand's promise to create products with an extremely strong proposition that will captivate the consumers.”

Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft International and IIFA said “Year after year IIFA has played out at various spectacular locations world over, committing itself to the cause of making Indian cinema global. Loyal to the very cause, IIFA has always lined-up an array of distinguished events which connect India to a global audience. We are confident that events like the IIFA Expo, FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum and various others will prove to be the perfect bridge between India and the U.S.”

Mr. Anil Khera – CEO, Videocon d2h added, “IIFA is the most awaited Hindi cinema award show due to the scale of its grandeur and global presence. Videocon d2h is the fastest growing DTH service in the country and has been at the forefront of innovation & high quality service in this sector. Videocon d2h would like to partake in promoting our cinema’s rich heritage, cinematic values and its resplendent beauty to delight every individual with the magic that Indian Cinema creates on celluloid through IIFA. This is a very good opportunity for both and we would like to take this association further.”

Gaurav Banerjee, General Manager, Star Plus said, “We are proud to partner Wizcraft for over the last ten years in  the biggest celebration of Indian Cinema with the IIFA weekend. This year with Tampa Bay as the host, a fantastic line up of talent and support from the industry, we promise to create a blockbuster evening  reaching IIFA to millions of households worldwide through Star Plus.”

The Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend is presented by Videocon D2H and the Tata Motors IIFA Awards is presented by Tata Motors and powered by Lava Mobiles. The IIFA Weekend & Awards will be broadcast globally on Star Plus, for the 10th year running. Visit Tampa Bay is the Official Destination Partner for the IIFA Weekend and Awards 2014 and Visit Florida, a key partner. Freedom Health Insurance are co-presenting sponsors for the IIFA Celebrations, Tampa Electric Company (TECO), a sponsor of the unique community event of IIFA Stomp and Mosaic, a sponsor of FICCI – IIFA Global Business Forum. Vishal Sarees is an associate partner of IIFA and Jammu & Kashmir Tourism, a partner.