Bollywood stars to perform in Durban

Published Aug 20, 2013

Share

THE cream of the Bollywood crop will be in Durban soon.

It was confirmed on Monday night that Bollywood actresses Maduri Dixit and Priyanka Chopra would perform at Saifta (the South Africa India Film and Television Awards) at Durban’s ICC on September 6.

Chopra is a former Miss World and one of Bollywood’s leading ladies, while Dixit is arguably Bollywood’s best actress and dancer. She holds the record for the highest number of best actress nominations (13) at the Indian Filmfare Awards.

Saifta creative director Kedhar Gawde said: “Ever since I have been directing shows, my first choice of star has been Madhuri, but I have never had the privilege of working with her until now.

“My dream is coming true, at Saifta in Durban. I am so pleased that through Saifta, we are able to expose a star of this calibre to the Durban audience. Bringing these type of stars to Durban will further strengthen Saifta’s aim to put the city and KwaZulu-Natal on the map as an ideal Bollywood film location.”

The A-list actresses are the latest to add their names to the stellar Bollywood line-up which includes Ranveer Singh and Siddharth Malhotra, tele-stars Manish Paul, Mona Singh, Apurva Agnihotri and Shilpa Agnihotri.

Awards

Actress Dia Mirza and celebrated film-maker Karan Jo har will host the awards this year. They replace Saif Ali Khan who was unable to attend because of a clash of dates.

More than 150 prominent film and TV personalities, including actor, film producer and former model John Abraham, will be walking the Saifta red carpet, along with the who’s who of the film and television industry from both countries.

These celebrities will get a chance to rub shoulders and interact with 30 top film and TV personalities of South Africa.

Model Jaqueline Fernandes, who wowed the audience at the Saifta launch in March, along with the unconventional rapper Hard Kaur, will be back by popular demand.

With little more than two weeks until the awards, the organisers, Celebrity Locker and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in KZN, are billing the event as the social occasion of the year.

An audience of 6 000 fans and celebrities is expected to attend the gala Saifta extravaganza, and plenty more are expected to gather on the Durban ICC Arena Concourse to watch the Bollywood stars walk the red carpet.

Tickets for Saifta 2013 are available at http://online.computicket.com/web/ - The Mercury

Related Topics: