Global superstars Anil Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra pose for The Ravi Report
Lights, camera and Bollywood!
If there is one single event that will give you a complete picture of the magic behind the largest film producing industry in the world complete with all its leading components, then you DO NOT want to miss the most talked about and highly anticipated event of 2014 soon to happen in the US for the first time. This folks, is a VERY BIG DEAL!
The International Indian Film Awards known as iifa is the biggest Bollywood event produced out of India (think Oscars) and is bound for Tampa Bay, Florida April 24-26, 2014.
Beautiful A List Bollywood celebrities, stunning exotic dancers, gorgeous actresses and choreographed spectacles with singers and superstars, will entertain thousands upon thousands of fans from all around the world that will come to see the live extravaganza.
As someone who has been covering Bollywood for almost two decades, trust me when I tell you that iifa is the most magnificent event ever to come out of India.
Now in its 15th year, the event will bring over 800 people set to perform in numerous events during the three-day celebration.
“Think Bono, Springsteen and the Superbowl all wrapped up with a bit of Moulin Rouge mixed in,that’s how iifa can be best described,” stated a stunning and statuesque Indian model attending the recent iifa NY press conference. “For those folks that want an up-close and personal experience of what the magic behind Bollywood is all about, they need to come to this event. Plain and simple.”
Kapoor and Chopra chatting before the press conference
In just one week since ticket sales have started, over 10K tickets have been sold for the event!!
Why Tampa Bay? Glad you asked.
“Tampa Bay is family oriented and doesn’t have the craziness of Miami and has all the assets of the big cities,” said Santiago Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Tampa Bay is also very sophisticated and welcoming of cultures and of course you ready know how much of a terrific culture Bollywood has to offer to the world and Tampa Bay is the perfect place to launch that fascinating culture.”
Dr. Kiran Patel, a well-known cardiologist and philanthropist is the brains behind bringing iifa to Tampa Bay. Dr. Patel has been a life long Bollywood fan and is one of the most respected individuals in the state of Florida.
International superstar and iifa representative actor Anil Kapoor spoke to The Ravi Report during the New York press conference that he and the ridiculously gorgeous Bollywood actress, Guess girl and Pitbull favorite Priyanka Chopra co-hosted.
Priyanka Chopra and Anil Kapoor take to the stage to talk about iifa significance in the United States
RR: Great to see you again Anil! The NY media is buzzing saying that both you and Priyanka, two well-known Bollywood stars outside of India with a strong international following, will draw a huge non-Indian audience to the iifa event. Your thoughts?
AK: Thanks so much but honestly, there are many more accomplished actors who have done so much more in Bollywood than me and Priyanka that will be at iifa, so I really look to the iifa association as more of a family event and not really one that is showcased by me or Priyanka.
RR: Is there a lot pressure from Bollywood for this massive event to go over well for the first time in the US?
The entire 2014 iifa Dream Team poses for the NY media
AK: Well, we do our best to entertainment those that come to iifa and try to do the best job we can as entertainers.
During the press conference, Kapoor pointed out he would never bestow his name to anything that he does not believe in.
“I have never endorsed any products…I never endorsed anything. I am very choosy and fussy about things. I don’t give my name just to anyone. So for me to come to NY and speak about iifa to the media is very important to me and I believe in iiffa and I believe in the folks of Tampa Bay.”
Press conference was held inside the legendary New York Plaza Hotel
Rajan Singh, head of International Business for Star Plus UK, has been a strong force behind iifa since the very beginning and is responsible for the million of viewers in 108 countries that will get to see the program.
RR: Mr. Singh, the iifa event is being compared to the likes of the Superbowl combined with Rolling Stones concerts in terms of viewership. Is that a pretty accurate description?
RS: Well, if you talk about the television exposure one will get with iifa with the biggest network in Asian television like Star Plus, then it certainly does fall into that kind of area.
RR: iifa has been staged around the world but never in the United States. What are some of the concerns you might have with such an intense undertaking?
RS:It’s going to be a quality event that is the most important thing we need to focus on.We have to produce quality events so people around the world can see how far iifa has come in the past 15 years of global exposure.
RR: With leading Bollywood stars starring in big budgeted Hollywood films, popular television shows and international modeling campaigns, is Bollywood finally coming to a mainstream level in the United States with iifa?
RS: I am surprised it has taken so long with America having such a huge Indian population,that it has taken 15 years for Bollywood to officially come to the US through iifa.
For more information on iifa and ticket sales, visit www.iifa.com.
The journey continues….in Bollywood style! Jai Ho!
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