Indian Cinema Megastar Vidya Balan Visits Houston to Promote IIFA

HOUSTON: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) visited the United States for a special multi-city promotional tour of New York, Houston, Tampa and Orlando from the 11 – 14 of March. The Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend 2015 will be held from the 23 to the 26 of April in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Houston saw the IIFA buzz on Wednesday, March 12, when actress Vidya Balan and singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya visited the city and met with the local media at the Westin Galleria.. IIFA partnered Star Promotion Inc on the Houston leg of the US promotional tour.

Actor, Vidya Balan said, “Having travelled to a number of exotic locales the world over, IIFA has made its mark on the map, educating the world about Indian Cinema. Going forward, I am very pleased to be a part of IIFA’s landmark journey, as they venture into the United States, in Tampa Bay. I am excited to be a part of the IIFA Master Class this year and look forward to engaging with my fans in the US.”

Fans are in for a treat this year. Music takes center stage at this year’s IIFA, with performers such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pritam, Farhan Akhtar, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shruti Hassan joining Bhoomi Trivedi, Monali Thakur, Ravi Drums and Ankit Tiwari in performances paying a befitting tribute to the soul of Indian films.

Additional unique events include the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, an IIFA Masterclass with Vidya Balan and Kevin Spacey, among others and IIFA Stomp, a celebration by the Tampa Bay community to welcome IIFA on April 23rd – a unique celebration of Indian music, dance and cuisine in the Curtis Hixon Waterfont Park in Tampa. This open for general public event, will feature popular DJs led by Ravi Drums and Akbar Sami.

IIFA Celebrations presented by Freedom Health will play out in a star-studded affair at Tampa Bay, as a huge celebrity contingent including Farhan Akhtar, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Shruti Hassan, Sonakshi Sinha, Anil Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Sri Devi and Boney Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Dr. Kamal Hassan, Shekhar Kapoor, Pritam, Anupam Kher, Vidya Balan, Ritesh Deshmukh, Genelia D’souza, Boman Irani, Fardeen Khan and many others will fly down to Tampa Bay in April this year for the IIFA Celebrations presented by Freedom Health.

Having played a large hand to bring the IIFA ceremony to Tampa Bay; cardiologist, philanthropist, community leader and strong supporter of IIFA, Dr. Kiran Patel said, “As the excitement builds up, we are pleased to have Ms. Balan join us in the US. With the descend of Bollywood in Tampa Bay and the continued goodwill of the Indian community behind us we look forward to the grandest celebration of Indian cinema that the US will bear witness to.”

Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft International and IIFA said, “This is a momentous occasion indeed for IIFA and we are thrilled to be debuting in the United States. We have had an overwhelming response from the fans here and want them to experience the true magic of our cinema. IIFA has therefore decided to open up the Magic of the Movies to audiences. We trust that the partnership we have struck with Tampa Bay will lead to great benefits to both countries in terms of entertainment, trade and tourism.”

“It gives me immense pleasure to announce that The “Bollywood Oscars” are coming to the Tampa Bay area the last weekend in April, with the awards ceremony being televised worldwide from Raymond James Stadium on April 26. We at Star Promotion Inc will be supporting Wizcraft International Entertainment, to put on the multiday extravaganza and would request Houston Media and fans to welcome them with open arms. I am delighted to give my full support to host the IIFA 2014. I look forward to it and would like to invite people of Houston, to come and be part of the spectacular IIFA weekend 2014.” Said, Rajender Singh, President and Founder, Star Promotion Inc.

Singer, Abhijeet Bhattacharya was also on hand, saying, “It’s always an honour when our cinema and music are appreciated around the world. IIFA has been a part of that journey. As a singer, it’s always special to be awarded or even nominated for an IIFA. The awards have a great deal of prestige attached to it.”

 The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) as a celebrated platform is known to take Indian Cinema on a global journey, generating unprecedented excitement and buzz around the world year after year for every upcoming IIFA celebration. Coming to the United States this year, the IIFA Weekend and Awards will take place in Tampa Bay, Florida from April 23- 26.