On June 24, IIFA Rocks, a Bollywood-style fashion show and concert sponsored by Grey Goose, took over Ricoh Coliseum with both movie stars and fans. Indian designers Rajesh Pratap Singh, Vikram Phadnis, and Sabyasachi showcased their collections, while sponsor the Bay also featured four Canadian designers’ collections. Jermaine Jackson teamed up with Indian singer Sonu Nigam to perform a tribute to his late brother Michael. The large stage had four runways stretching out from the circular middle. Orange and blue lighting lit the area, and large video screens acted as the backdrop.
For the main event, the award ceremony on June 25 at the Rogers Centre, fans lined up outside to welcome the Bollywood stars walking the IIFA green carpet. Inside, the stage featured an elaborate display of video screens and large versions of the IIFA sun-inspired trophies. Guests filled the stadium, and seats for the stars, media, and public were arranged on the grass of the baseball field.
The seven-hour ceremony included dance performances, skits, videos, and speeches. Following IIFA tradition, the host country produced the first performance of the evening, which was a video and live performance showcasing the province’s diversity, with bagpipers, Asian dragon dancers, and South Asian costumes. Later in the evening, actors Sonakshi Sinha and Ranvir Singh performed dances from their films. Bollywood celebrity Shah Rukh Khan—who won the Best Actor award that evening for his role in My Name Is Khan—performed despite a fractured knee. The film Dabangg won six mainstream trophies, including Best Film.
