Actor Aishwarya Rai graced the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Utsavam 2024 in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan. During a media interaction, Aishwarya explained why her daughter is always by her side.
In a video from the event, Aishwarya was seen smiling and posing with Aaradhya on the red carpet. When a reporter inquired about Aaradhya’s constant presence, Aishwarya replied, “She’s my daughter. She goes with me everywhere.” This isn’t the first time Aaradhya has joined her mother; she recently accompanied Aishwarya to Paris for a L’Oreal Paris event and has been present at several editions of the Cannes Film Festival.
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The official IIFA Utsavam Instagram account shared a clip of Aishwarya seeking blessings from filmmaker Mani Ratnam by touching his feet. Mani Ratnam received the Best Director (Tamil) award for Ponniyin Selvan II, which Aishwarya presented to him. They exchanged smiles and hugs during this touching moment. For the occasion, Mani Ratnam was dressed in a white shirt, blue jacket, and pants.
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Dressed in a stunning black and golden outfit, Aishwarya also received the Best Actress (Tamil) award for her role in Ponniyin Selvan II, a film that garnered nominations in 13 categories at the IIFA Utsavam.
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Aishwarya expressed her admiration for Mani Ratnam, saying, “I can’t even speak about his evolution as a maker because I have always respected him. From the beginning, I just say I am very grateful that I got to work with him for my first movie. I was so honoured that he asked me to be his Nandini in Ponniyin Selvan.”
Ponniyin Selvan II serves as the sequel to the 2022 film and features a star-studded cast, including Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, and more. The film tells the story of the Chola Dynasty.
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The IIFA 2024 festivities are taking place in Abu Dhabi from September 27 to September 29. The three-day celebration began with IIFA Utsavam, dedicated to southern cinema, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films.
On the second day, Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and Karan Johar will take the stage as hosts for the IIFA Awards night. Veteran actress Rekha will also make her return to the IIFA stage. Performances are expected from Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, and others.
The IIFA 2024 celebrations will culminate on September 29 with the exclusive invitation-only event, IIFA Rocks, featuring live performances from artists such as Honey Singh, Shilpa Rao, and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
