The film's cast -- Anil, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar -- apart, the 16th IIFA Weekend will have Bipasha, Ayushmann Khurrana, Dia Mirza, Boney Kapoor, Sridevi, Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor, Fawad Khan, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Jacqueline Fernandez and Sonakshi Sinha.
Joseph says "this is just the first confirmed list". "We have held back some names, but we will be revealing them soon. We are expecting about 50-60 celebrities from the Indian film industry to be here," he told IANS.
Bipasha, looking graceful in a gown, recollected how she had won a Best Debutante Award at IIFA the first time it had happened in Malaysia -- at Genting Highlands -- in 2002. Now after 13 years, the event is returning to the culturally diverse country.
Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau CEO Zulkefli Hj Sharif is confident IIFA will draw several tourists to Kuala Lumpur in June, and says they are working hard with the event organisers to put up a sparkling show.
The fact that it complements their initiatives to boost tourist arrivals during what is being celebrated as Malaysia Year of Festivals, is a win-win situation for them.
IIFA celebrates the magic of Indian cinema in international territories. The aim is to establish mutual benefits for both India as well as the host destinations by boosting tourism, economic development, trade, culture, cross-border investments and film co-productions.
Every year, the show travels to a new destination, taking the film fraternity with it to amalgamate and celebrate the best of both cultures.
Last year, in its 15th edition, the show made its US debut in Tampa Bay, Florida.
