The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) is dedicated to reaching out to millions of fans around the world to promote Indian cinema. Under the guidance of Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., IIFA tirelessly showcases the wealth of talent Indian Cinema has to offer, to the world. The premier vehicle that puts Indian cinema in the world spotlight is the annual IIFA Weekend and Awards event. In 2011. The IIFA Weekend and Awards consists of fun filled activities that bring fans close to their favourite stars. The highlight of the weekend is the IIFA Awards Ceremony that honours the very best of Indian cinematic culture. Fans from all over the world converge to celebrate Indian cinema, while millions can watch the telecast from the comfort of their home.

Fashion, films, music and glamour came together on the sidelines of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards at the IIFA Rocks event on Friday. As Bollywood siren Bipasha Basu summed it up nicely "You can't take the music out of the Indians. There's music in our films, there has to be music in our fashion too."

Perhaps this is what led her to walk the ramp wearing celebrated Indian couturier Sabyasachi and dancing to the hits of Shankar Ehsaan Loy. It also spelt a triumphant return for Dabangg sensation Sonakshi Sinha, who was literally unknown when she promoted the film at last year's awards ceremony in Sri Lanka. Wearing a short Alexander McQueen dress, Sinha said she was still reeling from all the affection she was receiving from her fans in Toronto. "This is my first time that I have been nominated in IIFAs. The feeling was wonderful, especially when people started chanting Tere Mast Mast Nain," said Sinha.

But she wasn't in the modern avatar for too long. An effective show stopper for designer Vikram Phadnis, Sinha returned to her familiar on screen role wearing a rich ethnic ensemble. Meanwhile, the technical aspects of filmmaking were also celebrated as Robot, Dabangg and Band Baaja Baarat won the maximum number of awards in different categories. Each won three awards. While Band Baaja Baaraat won for Editing ,Namrata Rao, Song Recording, Ainvayi Ainvayi and Costume Design, the Rajnikanth starrer Robot walked away with Best Art Director for Sabu Cyril. Actor Shah Rukh Khan presented the trophy to Cyril and lauded him for his ace work. Robot also won awards for Special Effects by Indian Artists and for Best Make Up. The Salman Khan starrer Dabangg also filled its already burgeoning trophy cabinet by taking home the award for Best Choreography, Munni Badnaam Hui choreographed by Farah Khan, and a gong for Best song recording for Leslie Fernandez.The film also won the award for Best Action by S. Vijayan. Meanwhile, the green carpet saw the likes of Anil Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Dia Mirza and Madhavan adding star wattage to the evening.

The International India Film Academy (IIFA) awards celebrate its North American premiere with a variety of festivities, special events and interviews. The 12th annual International Indian Film Academy awards have arrived and are making its North American premiere in Toronto this weekend. The best of Indian motion pictures will be honoured during the festival and many of its stars will be in town.Bollywood titan Shah Rukh Khan may have skipped the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards circuit for the last six years, but he claims that it's not pettiness or fragile egos that led to his absence.

"Actors avoid it because they have prior work commitments and in my case my children's holidays always fell during the same time in summer and it will be presumptuous to think they will change dates just for one actor," said Khan on the second day of the IIFA weekend celebrations in Toronto. The actor last attended the travelling Bollywood awards show in Amsterdam in 2005. But his continued absence had led to many a speculation, one being that he does not like to share the spotlight.

"When we hear such things that stars don't want to come together under one roof, we may keep silent but we are not accepting those charges blindly. We actors like spending time together especially under an international platform like the IIFAs. There's always that kind of camaraderie among us." Rumour has it that his "frenemy" Salman Khan pulled out of this year's IIFAs fearing a head on collision with him. Khan's intentions may have been noble and without any malice, but his appearance in Toronto on Friday overshadowed all the other events during the day, including the premiere of Salman Khan's first production Chillar Party. The Dabangg star had earlier bowed out of this year's show citing hectic shoots for his forthcoming drama, Bodyguard.

Meanwhile, King Khan's commitment towards making up for lost time at the IIFAs was evident when he spoke about his painful knee injury. Despite nursing a leg tear, the 45 year old actor seems to be determined to make a memorable comeback. "I have taken a couple of injections and my doctor advised me two days ago that I should rest for six months. But since I have made the commitment, it becomes my obligation to do the dance on the awards night or at least try to," said Khan. Earlier in the day, he humoured hundreds of screaming fans by breaking into an impromptu dance from his hit film Dil Se and signed a flurry of autographs thrust at him.

"It's just so wonderful to see the love that's coming from all ends. I feel I owe it to them. I love Toronto for its warm people and the cold weather." Khan's self effacing mood continued throughout the press meet as he confessed that he was working for nearly 18 hours a day. "My focus is to do some very good work and let my work speak for itself. Currently, I am working on making Ra.One on 3D format and Don 2 coming up for release shortly. "We have a lot to learn from the West. VFX in India is still in its nascent stages and it's important that we learn as much from the West, the same way in which they have begun learning from us about other services." His second forthcoming project of the thriller Don 2 will be released alongside actor producer Farhan Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in mid July. "It will all happen quite fast, but I am curious to know how my fans will react to it."Later in the night, Khan also walked the green carpet for the music fashion extravaganza IIFA Rocks. "My kids will join me soon and I hope I can make this IIFA a memorable one for my fans in Toronto," he said.

Bollywood Super Star Salman's Action Movie Dabangg was broke the dry spell at the box office by earning 480 million Rupees in the opening weekend,This year Salman khan's Comedy Film Ready has brouhgt much needed respite by grossing 400 million rupees in realease of it's first week.The Corporate head of india's weve Cinema Yogesh Raizada Said,"Ready has had a good opening. The occupancy has been 90-95 per cent. It is more of a family entertainer. One would not see the kind of action that was in Dabangg and Wanted,"He also added "Salman is perfect in the film, he has done full justice to his character. Asin is also good in the film,"

In contrast to the Rs180 million Dabangg, a small-town cop drama shot in Wai in Maharashtra and partly in the UAE, Ready, shot entirely in Thailand, is expensive and is said to have cost Rs500 million."People are enjoying the film a lot, specially Salman Khan, although the shows have not been back-to-back houseful like Dabangg and Wanted,"

Just like Khan's 2008 hit Wanted, his Ready is performing much better in single screen theatres,their shows are going houseful. "The response to Ready is terrific. Till now, shows are going houseful. Everyone is appreciating Salman's acting. It is too early to say whether the film will be as big as Dabangg because today, every day counts because of the number of shows being played today,Trade experts, however, admitted that Ready will not enjoy a long stay at the box office like Dabangg.