The opening IIFA press conference was a lot like an Indian wedding reception. There were dancers, a lot of thank you’s to be given out and a buffet at the end. Rumbling a little behind schedule as the dignitaries and stars filed in, the event really served as a way to bring up sponsors and various politicians who have been involved in bringing the awards to Ontario.
Premier Dalton McGuinty was feted for his role in winning the bid for the awards, and bringing them to North America for the first time.
“Every where I go, people comment to me about the time that I was hugged by Anil Kapoor,” said McGuinty about meeting the star in Mumbai. “Well, we have an election coming up in the fall, and I’ve already got the slogan: I’m with Kapoor.”
McGuinty and several other business people talked about how the IIFA will help tourism and help build even closer relations between India, Ontario and Canada.
As a symbol of the relationship, a statue of the Maharaja dressed in a Mountie uniform was unveiled.
At the end of the conference, Bollywood stars Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh called the various celebrities on stage for a photo opportunity, including Anil Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat, Bipusha Basu and Anupam Kher, ceremonially kicking off the weekend.
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