The 23rd season of the International Indian Film Academy Awards, also known as IIFA, has made its return. Produce by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., this annual award ceremony recognizes outstanding contributions in the Bollywood film industry, including films, stars, filmmakers, and technicians.
Since its establishment in 2000, the IIFA awards have held in different countries worldwide.
The inaugural ceremony took place on June 24, 2000, at the Millennium Dome in London, and the 22nd edition was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Bollywood fantasy film Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva and biopic Gangubai Kathiawadi were the big winners at this year’s International Indian Film Academy Awards.
IIFA held across two days at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Bollywood’s biggest and brightest stars paid tribute to their colleagues and celebrated with some colourful performances.
The IIFA Awards are an annual celebration of all things Bollywood.
Abu Dhabi was hosting the event for the second year in a row.
On Friday at IIFA Rocks, a night dedicate to music and fashion, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period biopic Gangubai Kathiawadi was the big winner in the technical categories, clinching trophies for cinematography, screenplay and dialogue.
The film, about real-life gangster Ganga Harjivandas Kathiawadi, a mafia chief in 1960s Bombay, stars Alia Bhatt in the lead.
Alia Bhatt won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) for her performance in the film.
Hrithik Roshan won the leading actor trophy for his role in the Abu Dhabi-shot Vikram Vedha.
Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, the horror comedy starring Kartik Aaryan and Tabu, won two awards, Best Choreography for title track and Best Sound Design.
Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva won the majority of the awards on Saturday at the gala event, including Best Playback Singer for Shreya Ghoshal (Female) and Arijit Singh (Male), as well as Best Supporting Actor (Female) for Mouni Roy.
Babil Khan, the son of late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, share the Best Debut (Male) award with Shantanu Maheshwari.
Babil Khan was celebrated for his role in the film Qala, and Maheshwari for starring in Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Khushali Kumar won the Best Debut (Female) awards for Dhoka Around the Corner.
Winners at the IIFA Awards 2023:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Film | Drishyam 2 |
| Best Director | R Madhavan for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) | Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) | Hrithik Roshan for Vikram Vedha |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) | Mouni Roy for Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) | Anil Kapoor for Jugg Jugg Jeeyo |
| Outstanding Achievement for Fashion in Cinema | Manish Malhotra |
| Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema | Kamal Haasan |
| Best Adapted Story | Aamil Keeyan Khan and Abhishek Pathak for Drishyam 2 |
| Best Original Story | Perveez Sheikh and Jasmeet Reen for Darlings |
| Outstanding Achievement in Regional Cinema | Marathi film Ved directed by Riteish Deshmukh |
| Best Debut (Male) | Shantanu Maheshwari for Gangubai Kathiawadi and Babil Khan for Qala |
| Best Debut (Female) | Khushali Kumar for Dhoka Around the Corner |
| Best Playback Singer (Female) | Shreya Ghoshal for the song Rasiya from Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva |
| Best Playback Singer (Male) | Arijit Singh for the song Kesariya from Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva |
| Best Music Direction | Pritam for Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva |
| Best Lyricist | Amitabh Bhattacharya for the song Kesariya from Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva |
| Best Cinematography | Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Screenplay | Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Dialogue | Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Choreography for title track | Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 |
| Best Sound Design | Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 |
| Best Editing | Drishyam 2 |
| Best Special Effects (Visual) | Brahmastra: Part one – Shiva |
| Best Background Score | Vikram Vedha |
| Best Sound Mixing | Monica O My Darling |
