The Glitz, Glamour, and Glory: The IIFA Awards 2023

Discover the winners, red carpet glamour, and behind-the-scenes stories of IIFA Awards 2023.

A starry weekend unfolded as the 23rd edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards painted the city of Abu Dhabi with the resplendent hues of Indian cinema. Organized on May 26 and May 27, the event celebrated the relentless efforts of artists and technicians in creating magic on the silver screen in the past year.

Renowned celebrities such as Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan, Abhishek Bachchan, Nora Fatehi, and Sara Ali Khan graced the occasion with their presence, creating an electric atmosphere filled with anticipation and excitement.

This year, the battle for the Best Picture was intense, with a spectacular line-up of films that had touched hearts and broken box-office records. The night, however, belonged to Ajay Devgn’s gripping thriller 'Drishyam 2,' which bagged the coveted trophy, beating other strong contenders in this category.

Actor-director R Madhavan made his mark by winning the Best Director award for his biographical drama 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.' The film, which narrates the life of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, was hailed by critics for its detailed storytelling and R Madhavan's directorial finesse.

The Best Actor (Male) award was clinched by Hrithik Roshan for his compelling performance in the action thriller 'Vikram Vedha.' On the other hand, Alia Bhatt received the Best Actor (Female) award for her dynamic portrayal of a powerful brothel owner in 'Gangubai Kathiawadi.' The raw emotion and depth that these actors brought to their characters were truly remarkable.

Anil Kapoor, with his impeccable comic timing in 'Jug Jugg Jiyo,' and Mouni Roy, with her captivating performance in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva,' won the awards for Best Supporting Actor (Male) and Best Supporting Actor (Female), respectively. Their performances added depth and charm to these films and left a memorable impact on the audience.

The IIFA 2023 was also a platform that celebrated new talent. Babil Khan for 'Qala' and Shantanu Maheshwari for 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' shared the Best Debut (Male) award, while Khushalii Kumar bagged the Best Debut (Female) award for her performance in 'Dhokha: Round D Corner.' These new faces showed tremendous promise, hinting at a bright future for Indian cinema.

Music defines most creations coming from Bollywood, the year 2023 did not witness any reversal of this trend. Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal won the Best Playback Singer (Male) and (Female) awards for their songs 'Kesariya' and 'Rasiya,' respectively, from 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva.' The enchanting music of this film was crafted by Pritam Chakraborty, who won the Best Music award. The captivating lyrics of 'Kesariya,' penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, earned him the Best Lyricist award.

The award for Best Original Story was bestowed upon Jasmeet K Reen and Parveez Sheikh for their innovative script of 'Darlings.' On the other hand, the Best Adapted Story award was claimed by Aamil Keeyan Khan and Abhishek Pathak for 'Drishyam 2.'

This year, IIFA also acknowledged the contributions made to regional cinema. Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza's Marathi film 'Ved' received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Regional Cinema. The night further celebrated the immense contributions of Kamal Haasan to Indian cinema and Manish Malhotra's unparalleled fashion sense, both of whom were honored with Outstanding Achievement awards.

The IIFA Awards 2023 was not just an event! It marked the celebration of the resilience, creativity, and spirit of Indian cinema. As Moris Media, India’s best digital marketing agency looks forward to the next year, we cherish the accomplishments of the past and eagerly anticipate the breakthroughs of the future.