2009 IIFA Award | Rajesh Khanna | Rajesh Khanna to receive IIFA Award

New Delhi, May 30(IANS) Yesteryear’s superstar Rajesh Khanna will be given the lifetime achievement award at the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Macau next month.

Rajesh, who gave hits like “Aradhana”, “Kati Patang, “Anand” and “Amar Prem”, will be felicitated at the award ceremony of the 10th IIFA celebrations on June 13, an IIFA press statement said.

“Over the years, we have paid tribute to the greats of the Indian film industry, recognising their contribution to cinema. In our 10th year at the IIFA Awards in Macau, we honour Rajesh Khanna who has undoubtedly defined romance in our films,” said Sabbas Joseph, director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, the organisers of the glitzy event.

“He (Rajesh) is considered the first superstar of Indian cinema and has influenced an entire genre of romantic movies, creating a legendary persona that strikes a chord with the youth, even today.” added Joseph.

In the past, IIFA has awarded Bollywood stalwarts like Waheeda Raham, Asha Parekh, Yash Chopra, Dharmendra, Mumtaz and others for their contribution to Indian cinema.

Over 500 luminaries from the Indian film industry are expected to watch Rajesh Khanna receive the award.

The 10th IIFA Weekend will be held at The Venetian Macau Resort June 11-13.

The three-day event will see a host of Indian celebrities as well as international film personalities including brand ambassador megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his family, actors Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapur, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Kangana Ranaut, Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta.

Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor will be among the star performers at the event.

Over 1500 Industry Members Vote for 10th IIFA Awards. IIFA 2009 gets off to a great start with The IIFA Voting Weekend

In a never before seen turnout from the Indian Film Industry in recent times, an astounding 1500 industry members showed up to support IIFA in its tenth year and vote for who the deem to be the best of 2008. The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Voting Weekend for the IIFA Awards 2009, started on Friday, the 6th of March and was on for three days at the J. W. Marriot in Mumbai.

Year after year, industry stalwarts, actors, directors, producers, technicians and composers among others cast their votes, which decide the nominations for the main awards. The numbers that come in to vote each year vary between 500 to a thousand, but the tenth year celebrations saw an astounding 1500+ industry members come in to vote.

After Mr. Amitabh Bachchans, IIFA’s Brand Ambassador’s customary first vote to initiate proceedings, the fraternity followed suit to make the Voting Weekend an unprecedented success. Some of the biggest names in the Indian Film Industry voted with the likes of Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Farhan Akthar, Jaya Bachchan, Anupam & Kirron Kher, Riteish Deshmukh, Raveena Tandon, Randhir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Johnny Lever, Purab Kohli, Sonali Kulkarni, Tushar Kapoor, Zayed Khan, Neha Dupia, Vinay Pathak and Javed Akthar among many others.

Talking about the IIFA Voting Process, Neha Dupia said, “It’s very democratic. It’s of, by and for the people and that’s the best part about the whole IIFA Voting process.”

In the same tandem, Farhan Akthar said, “When you’re new in the Industry, and to know that your fraternity has decided to confer an award like this, it feels really good and that is really my biggest memory of the IIFA Awards.”

A large number of new talent also came in. Abhay Deol, Shahana Goswami, Arjan Bajwa, Sonu Sood, Jacky Bhagnani, Prachi Desai, Gul Panang and Mugdha Godse. Other specialists that came in were Aki Narula, Nitin Desai, Sajid-Wajid, Longinus, and Amol Gupte (of Taare Zameen Par fame).

Entire cast and crews from top films in 2008 like Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye, Jodha Akbar & Rock On came to The IIFA Voting Weekend at the J.W.Marriot to vote for their films and their favourites of the year gone by.

Many film producers and directors also came in – Madhur Bandarkar, Karan Johar, Ashutosh Gowariker, Apoorva Lakhia, Ramesh Sippy, Riteish Sidwani, Bunty Walia, Shyam Shroff, Neeraj Pandey, Sunil Doshi, Tarun Mansukhani, Harry Baweja, Abbas Mastan, Zoya Akthar, Neeraj Sridhar, Abhishek Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Boney Kapoor and Mukhesh Bhatt.

Ashutosh Gowariker of Jodha Akbar fame said, “IIFA, the Voting system is something that is very transparent and very beneficial for the Industry itself.”

The votes that have been cast through the IIFA Voting Weekend shortlist nominations in the category of the Popular Awards and the Technical Award winners are derived from them. The winners of the Popular Awards will be announced at the IIFA Awards 2009.