DURBAN: After bagging numerous awards on home turf, Anurag Basu’s Barfi! received international acclaim by winning the Best Film award in the first edition of the South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA), held on Friday. Even Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra won the best actors awards for their performances in the movie.
The award show kicked off with a special Madiba Award for ailing former South African president Nelson Mandela, which was received by his granddaughter Ndileka Mandela. Organised at the International Convention Centre, counted among one of the world’s best convention centres, the show featured scintillating dance performances by Bollywood stars. While actor Siddharth Malhotra performed to songs from his film, Student of the Year, actor Ranveer Singh rocked the dance floor with his energetic dance act on a medley of Indian songs. Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit also wowed the audience with her performance on her hit songs including her recent item number Ghagra from Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.
As many as 150 film and TV personalities from India and 30 South African film and TV personalities were present at the event. Designer duo Alpa and Reena showcased their collection at a special fashion show, while TV host Manish Paul revealed the promotional trailer of his upcoming film, Mickey Virus, alongside co-actor Elli Avram.
The event was host to an audience consisting of around 7000 people. Holding the evening together with his inimitable wit was film-maker Karan Johar, accompanied by the beautiful Dia Mirza, former Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar and the charming Simba.
On the Indian television front, popular soap, Pavitra Rishta, of Zee TV picked up the Show of the Year award, Gurmeet Choudhary was adjudged lead actor of the year, while Kratika Sengar of Punar Vivaah fame won the lead actress award.
Those from South African film and TV industry were also honoured at the gala. 7De Laan won the TV show of the year, and the TV actor of the year awards went to Robert Whitehead for Isidingo and Baby Cele for Zabalaza.
SAIFTA was organised by the Mumbai-based event management company Celebrity Locker in collaboration with the Kwa Zulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism of Durban. Its focus was to enhance the exchange of cultural elements between Indian and South African entertainment industry.
Winners List — Film
Best Film: Barfi!
Best Actor (Male): Ranbir Kapoor
Best Actor (Female): Priyanka Chopra
Best Director: Abhishek Kapoor for Kai Po Che
Best Supporting Actor (Male): Nawazuddin Siddiqui for Gangs of Wasseypur
Best Supporting Actor (Female): Divya Dutta for Special 26 and Rani Mukerji for Talaash
Best Debut (Male): Siddharth Malhotra for Student of the Year
Best Debut (Female): Huma Qureshi for Gangs of Wasseypur
Best Youth Icon: John Abraham
Song of the Year: Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2013.
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