The Indian film “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” led winners of the “Bollywood Oscars” on Saturday, clinching five of the top honours.The categories include best picture and best director as the awards made their first-ever U.S. stop in Tampa, Florida.
Celebrities, including Kevin Spacey and John Travolta and dignitaries from India and the U.S. descended on the Gulf Coast city this week for the International Indian Film Academy’s awards.
The award had been likened to the Super Bowl in terms of its security needs, traffic management and planning.
“Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” a biographical sports drama based on the life of Milkha Singh, an Indian athlete, who was a national champion runner and an Olympian, led the winners at the awards.
The grand finale of the awards capped four days of events and celebrations aimed at creating deeper ties between India and the U.S.
Besides the awards for best picture and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the film won the best actor award for Farhan Akhtar.
Best supporting actress went to Divya Dutta and best story. It also collected a host of technical awards.
The prize for best actress went to Deepika Padukone for “Chennai Express,” and she was also named entertainer of the year.
“2013 was an amazing year for me,” Padukone said after her win.
“I left home with a suitcase and a dream and I thank my parents for allowing me to follow my dream.”
Hollywood star Travolta received a special award for outstanding contribution to international cinema, saying he was “honoured and humbled to be put in this category.”
“I believe that as human beings we are alike and this is a medium to celebrate our similarities,” Travolta said.
The award for performance by an actor in a supporting role went to Aditya Roy Kapoor for “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.”
Shatrughan Sinha was honoured for lifetime achievement.
The film “Aashiqui 2″ scored a host of musical prizes, including those for best lyrics and best male and female singers.
Honours for newcomers were won by actor and actress Dhanush and Vani Kapoor.
The four-day event, with an expected worldwide viewer ship of 800 million, drew tens of thousands of visitors to the area and was expected to generate about $11 million in revenue, organisers said.
The $2 billion Indian film industry has a wide global reach and produces more movies each year than Hollywood, though the U.S. film industry generates five times more revenue, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
(Reuters/NAN)
