'Dabangg' dominates Bollywood awards with 9 prizes (AP)

TORONTO – "Dabangg," a tale about a corrupt police officer, dominated the 12th International Indian Film Academy awards, snagging nine prizes including best picture at the star-studded event in Toronto — held on North American soil for the first time.

"My Name is Khan" also scooped up several top honors at the five-hour award bash that started Saturday night and rolled over into early Sunday. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan took the prize for leading male role for the film, about the treatment of Muslims in a world of heightened suspicions following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Khan played the family's Muslim patriarch who suffers from Asperger's syndrome. The film took home five awards, including the prize for best director and best story. Khan was handed his award by Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor and two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, who congratulated Bollywood for helping to unite the world through film.

"Hollywood and Indian cinema must bring the world closer together," said Swank, draped in a glittering sleeveless deep red gown. "I believe in IIFA's vision — one people, one world."

Another Academy Award winner, Cuba Gooding Jr. presented the best director award to Karan Johar for "My Name is Khan," declaring that he was impressed by the power of Indian films around the world.

"I think it's absolutely wonderful how India has traveled the world of entertainment and I would love to play and be a part of a Bollywood movie myself," said Gooding, who broke out into a few dance moves.

"Dabangg" led the awards tally sweeping trophies in the music category in Toronto's packed Rogers Centre, filled with more than 22,000 Bollywood fans and stars. The hit took the prize for best playback singer female, playback singer male, music direction, choreography and sound re-recording. A playback singer pre-records songs so Bollywood actors can lip sync to them in their films. "Dabangg" star Sonu Sood won for best performance in a negative role.

The film also garnered the awards for best screenplay and for best female debut which went to Sonakshi Sinha for her role in the film as Sood's love interest. It also snagged the best action award.

Some of the awards in technical categories were announced during a concert-fashion show on Friday night.

Anushka Sharma won the best female lead for her role as an assistant to a wedding planner in "Band Baaja Baaraat," a film about the world of wedding planning which won five awards. Arjun Rampal took home the best male supporting prize for the political thriller "Raajneeti," and best supporting female role award went to Prachi Desai for "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai."

Kangana Ranaut, the model turned actress, gave the night's first performance with her fellow "Double Dhamaal" actors Arshad Warsi, Javeed Jaffrey and Ashish Chaudry. The film was one of several that premiered during the IIFA weekend.

A lifetime achievement award was given to Dharmendra Deol, patriarch of the Deol dynasty, who received the special award for his 55-year-long career. Dharmendra's sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, Bollywood stars in their own right, performed with their father for the first time on stage to a song from their film "Yamla, Pagla, Deewane."

Outstanding achievement in Indian cinema went to Sharmila Tagore, who has starred in such films as "Mera Sapnon Ki Rani," "Namkeen," and "Chingari," and has spent 52 years in the industry. Tagore's children, son Saif Ali Khan and daughter Soha Ali Khan are both also popular Bollywood actors. Tagore said her children wanted to attend the weekend festivities, but couldn't because they are both finishing films.

The energy-packed ceremony filled with glitzy Bollywood dance numbers and tributes, closed with an appearance by Khan, who was unable to perform his planned dance numbers due to a fractured knee.

However the star known as "King Khan" did not disappoint his fans. He had the crowd in stitches by attempting to teach them a few Bollywood moves, while poking fun at the industry's often over-the-top routines. Pretending to shake lice out of his hair and sweep the floor, Khan drew laughter and cheers from the crowd.

The night ended more than two hours behind schedule with Bollywood celebs joining Khan on stage for a closing dance routine.

The hugely popular awards ceremonies capped three days of festivities.

Roughly 16,000 of the 22,000 tickets to the awards ceremony available to the public sold out in minutes. Those lucky enough to get seats were charged between $49 and $126, while resellers offered last-minute tickets online for more than $1,500 each.

Launched in 2000 at the Millennium Dome in London, the annual IIFA awards have traveled around the world in the hopes of exposing the genre to various audiences and opening trade markets.

Holding the event in Toronto was a strategic move as India's cinematic royalty makes a bid for a piece of the North American box office. Held previously in Amsterdam, Sri Lanka, Macau, London, Malaysia, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Johannesburg, IIFA is capitalizing on the already huge Bollywood following in Toronto, which has an estimated population of nearly 700,000 South Asians.

"For the first time in its 12-year history, IIFA makes its North American debut, and its biggest stars are you," Kapoor said in a mix of English, Hindi and Punjabi while pointing to the audience. "Thank you Ontario. Thank you so much for making us feel the warmth in Canada."

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty lured the IIFA to the city by pledging $12.25 million.

Organizers say more than 200 filmmakers and actors came from overseas in the bid to gain inroads into the North American market and build production partnerships.

The awards gala is considered India's biggest media event and one of world's most-watched televised spectacles, with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in.

'Dabangg' dominates Bollywood awards with 9 prizes (AP)

TORONTO – "Dabangg," a tale about a corrupt police officer, dominated the 12th International Indian Film Academy awards, snagging nine prizes including best picture at the star-studded event in Toronto — held on North American soil for the first time.

"My Name is Khan" also scooped up several top honors at the five-hour award bash that started Saturday night and rolled over into early Sunday. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan took the prize for leading male role for the film, about the treatment of Muslims in a world of heightened suspicions following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Khan played the family's Muslim patriarch who suffers from Asperger's syndrome. The film took home five awards, including the prize for best director and best story. Khan was handed his award by Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor and two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, who congratulated Bollywood for helping to unite the world through film.

"Hollywood and Indian cinema must bring the world closer together," said Swank, draped in a glittering sleeveless deep red gown. "I believe in IIFA's vision — one people, one world."

Another Academy Award winner, Cuba Gooding Jr. presented the best director award to Karan Johar for "My Name is Khan," declaring that he was impressed by the power of Indian films around the world.

"I think it's absolutely wonderful how India has traveled the world of entertainment and I would love to play and be a part of a Bollywood movie myself," said Gooding, who broke out into a few dance moves.

"Dabangg" led the awards tally sweeping trophies in the music category in Toronto's packed Rogers Centre, filled with more than 22,000 Bollywood fans and stars. The hit took the prize for best playback singer female, playback singer male, music direction, choreography and sound re-recording. A playback singer pre-records songs so Bollywood actors can lip sync to them in their films. "Dabangg" star Sonu Sood won for best performance in a negative role.

The film also garnered the awards for best screenplay and for best female debut which went to Sonakshi Sinha for her role in the film as Sood's love interest. It also snagged the best action award.

Some of the awards in technical categories were announced during a concert-fashion show on Friday night.

Anushka Sharma won the best female lead for her role as an assistant to a wedding planner in "Band Baaja Baaraat," a film about the world of wedding planning which won five awards. Arjun Rampal took home the best male supporting prize for the political thriller "Raajneeti," and best supporting female role award went to Prachi Desai for "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai."

Kangana Ranaut, the model turned actress, gave the night's first performance with her fellow "Double Dhamaal" actors Arshad Warsi, Javeed Jaffrey and Ashish Chaudry. The film was one of several that premiered during the IIFA weekend.

A lifetime achievement award was given to Dharmendra Deol, patriarch of the Deol dynasty, who received the special award for his 55-year-long career. Dharmendra's sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, Bollywood stars in their own right, performed with their father for the first time on stage to a song from their film "Yamla, Pagla, Deewane."

Outstanding achievement in Indian cinema went to Sharmila Tagore, who has starred in such films as "Mera Sapnon Ki Rani," "Namkeen," and "Chingari," and has spent 52 years in the industry. Tagore's children, son Saif Ali Khan and daughter Soha Ali Khan are both also popular Bollywood actors. Tagore said her children wanted to attend the weekend festivities, but couldn't because they are both finishing films.

The energy-packed ceremony filled with glitzy Bollywood dance numbers and tributes, closed with an appearance by Khan, who was unable to perform his planned dance numbers due to a fractured knee.

However the star known as "King Khan" did not disappoint his fans. He had the crowd in stitches by attempting to teach them a few Bollywood moves, while poking fun at the industry's often over-the-top routines. Pretending to shake lice out of his hair and sweep the floor, Khan drew laughter and cheers from the crowd.

The night ended more than two hours behind schedule with Bollywood celebs joining Khan on stage for a closing dance routine.

The hugely popular awards ceremonies capped three days of festivities.

Roughly 16,000 of the 22,000 tickets to the awards ceremony available to the public sold out in minutes. Those lucky enough to get seats were charged between $49 and $126, while resellers offered last-minute tickets online for more than $1,500 each.

Launched in 2000 at the Millennium Dome in London, the annual IIFA awards have traveled around the world in the hopes of exposing the genre to various audiences and opening trade markets.

Holding the event in Toronto was a strategic move as India's cinematic royalty makes a bid for a piece of the North American box office. Held previously in Amsterdam, Sri Lanka, Macau, London, Malaysia, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Johannesburg, IIFA is capitalizing on the already huge Bollywood following in Toronto, which has an estimated population of nearly 700,000 South Asians.

"For the first time in its 12-year history, IIFA makes its North American debut, and its biggest stars are you," Kapoor said in a mix of English, Hindi and Punjabi while pointing to the audience. "Thank you Ontario. Thank you so much for making us feel the warmth in Canada."

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty lured the IIFA to the city by pledging $12.25 million.

Organizers say more than 200 filmmakers and actors came from overseas in the bid to gain inroads into the North American market and build production partnerships.

The awards gala is considered India's biggest media event and one of world's most-watched televised spectacles, with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in.

'Dabangg' dominates Bollywood awards with 9 prizes (AP)

TORONTO – "Dabangg," a tale about a corrupt police officer, dominated the 12th International Indian Film Academy awards, snagging nine prizes including best picture at the star-studded event in Toronto — held on North American soil for the first time.

"My Name is Khan" also scooped up several top honors at the five-hour award bash that started Saturday night and rolled over into early Sunday. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan took the prize for leading male role for the film, about the treatment of Muslims in a world of heightened suspicions following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Khan played the family's Muslim patriarch who suffers from Asperger's syndrome. The film took home five awards, including the prize for best director and best story. Khan was handed his award by Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor and two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, who congratulated Bollywood for helping to unite the world through film.

"Hollywood and Indian cinema must bring the world closer together," said Swank, draped in a glittering sleeveless deep red gown. "I believe in IIFA's vision — one people, one world."

Another Academy Award winner, Cuba Gooding Jr. presented the best director award to Karan Johar for "My Name is Khan," declaring that he was impressed by the power of Indian films around the world.

"I think it's absolutely wonderful how India has traveled the world of entertainment and I would love to play and be a part of a Bollywood movie myself," said Gooding, who broke out into a few dance moves.

"Dabangg" led the awards tally sweeping trophies in the music category in Toronto's packed Rogers Centre, filled with more than 22,000 Bollywood fans and stars. The hit took the prize for best playback singer female, playback singer male, music direction, choreography and sound re-recording. A playback singer pre-records songs so Bollywood actors can lip sync to them in their films. "Dabangg" star Sonu Sood won for best performance in a negative role.

The film also garnered the awards for best screenplay and for best female debut which went to Sonakshi Sinha for her role in the film as Sood's love interest. It also snagged the best action award.

Some of the awards in technical categories were announced during a concert-fashion show on Friday night.

Anushka Sharma won the best female lead for her role as an assistant to a wedding planner in "Band Baaja Baaraat," a film about the world of wedding planning which won five awards. Arjun Rampal took home the best male supporting prize for the political thriller "Raajneeti," and best supporting female role award went to Prachi Desai for "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai."

Kangana Ranaut, the model turned actress, gave the night's first performance with her fellow "Double Dhamaal" actors Arshad Warsi, Javeed Jaffrey and Ashish Chaudry. The film was one of several that premiered during the IIFA weekend.

A lifetime achievement award was given to Dharmendra Deol, patriarch of the Deol dynasty, who received the special award for his 55-year-long career. Dharmendra's sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, Bollywood stars in their own right, performed with their father for the first time on stage to a song from their film "Yamla, Pagla, Deewane."

Outstanding achievement in Indian cinema went to Sharmila Tagore, who has starred in such films as "Mera Sapnon Ki Rani," "Namkeen," and "Chingari," and has spent 52 years in the industry. Tagore's children, son Saif Ali Khan and daughter Soha Ali Khan are both also popular Bollywood actors. Tagore said her children wanted to attend the weekend festivities, but couldn't because they are both finishing films.

The energy-packed ceremony filled with glitzy Bollywood dance numbers and tributes, closed with an appearance by Khan, who was unable to perform his planned dance numbers due to a fractured knee.

However the star known as "King Khan" did not disappoint his fans. He had the crowd in stitches by attempting to teach them a few Bollywood moves, while poking fun at the industry's often over-the-top routines. Pretending to shake lice out of his hair and sweep the floor, Khan drew laughter and cheers from the crowd.

The night ended more than two hours behind schedule with Bollywood celebs joining Khan on stage for a closing dance routine.

The hugely popular awards ceremonies capped three days of festivities.

Roughly 16,000 of the 22,000 tickets to the awards ceremony available to the public sold out in minutes. Those lucky enough to get seats were charged between $49 and $126, while resellers offered last-minute tickets online for more than $1,500 each.

Launched in 2000 at the Millennium Dome in London, the annual IIFA awards have traveled around the world in the hopes of exposing the genre to various audiences and opening trade markets.

Holding the event in Toronto was a strategic move as India's cinematic royalty makes a bid for a piece of the North American box office. Held previously in Amsterdam, Sri Lanka, Macau, London, Malaysia, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Johannesburg, IIFA is capitalizing on the already huge Bollywood following in Toronto, which has an estimated population of nearly 700,000 South Asians.

"For the first time in its 12-year history, IIFA makes its North American debut, and its biggest stars are you," Kapoor said in a mix of English, Hindi and Punjabi while pointing to the audience. "Thank you Ontario. Thank you so much for making us feel the warmth in Canada."

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty lured the IIFA to the city by pledging $12.25 million.

Organizers say more than 200 filmmakers and actors came from overseas in the bid to gain inroads into the North American market and build production partnerships.

The awards gala is considered India's biggest media event and one of world's most-watched televised spectacles, with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects number of awards Dabangg won to 9 some awards were handed out to Dabangg before Saturday's ceremony; adds that "My Name Is Khan" won five awards; adds details on Khan's closing performance Minor edits thruout. For global distribution. This story is part of AP's general news and entertainment services.)

'Dabangg' wins six awards at 'Bollywood Oscars' (AFP)

TORONTO (AFP) – Screen tough guy Salman Khan's corrupt cop romp "Dabangg" (Fearless) won a clutch of awards including best picture at the "Bollywood Oscars," held for the first time in North America.

The film directed by Abhinav Kashyap won in the hugely important music categories for best female playback singer, best male playback singer and best music direction, as well as best screenplay.

Actor Sonu Sood also picked up the award for best performance in a negative role as the evil head of a regional political party in the film. He thanked his mother when accepting the award.

"My Name is Khan" followed with four nods for best story, best lyrics, best director for Karan Johar and best actor for Shah Rukh Khan's portrayal of a Muslim suffering from Asperger's syndrome who is detained at a US airport after his disability is mistaken for suspicious behaviour.

The making of the film was "emotional and therapeutic," Johar said after the win, adding it taught him "restraint and love."

Tens of thousands of fans swarmed Toronto's Rogers' Centre stadium for the 12th annual Indian International Film Academy awards, and another 700 million were expected to have watched it on television.

Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor ("Slumdog Millionaire") and the Deol family were among the dozens of Bollywood superstars in attendance, along with Oscar-winners Hilary Swank and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Salman Khan, however, could not make it to Toronto as he was reportedly shooting his next film "Bodyguard," a romantic action movie with Kareena Kapoor.

"I love you so much," screamed Mamta Sharma over and over, after winning the award for best female playback singer for the song "Munni Badnam."

A tense moment followed when a fan grabbed Shah Rukh Khan onstage, leading the "King of Bollywood" to complain that the man was hurting his leg.

"This is the problem, only men grab my thighs," Khan joked as his assailant was escorted off stage.

Khan's return to the awards show after a six-year absence had earlier been put in doubt by a knee injury that had required being taped up at a hospital and "a couple of injections."

He said he had fractured a part of the bone and the ligament was "swollen to three times the size it should be."

He had vowed to perform at the IIFA show but in the end his dance steps were tremendously scaled back, and he urged the audience to fill in the rest by dancing in the aisles.

Khan last attended the IIFA in Amsterdam in 2005, and last performed at the show a year earlier in Singapore.

A three-day festival leading up to awards night saw flash mobs of Indian dancers, gala movie premieres, a fashion show and Indian cultural events.

Jermaine Jackson also performed his late brother Michael's hits with Indian pop singer Sonu Nigam at an IIFA concert on Friday to commemorate the second anniversary of Michael's death.

Launched in 2000 at the Millennium Dome in London, the annual IIFA awards have been held in 11 cities around the world, including Colombo, Macao, Bangkok, Dubai, Amsterdam and Johannesburg.

It is designed to celebrate the popular Hindi-language film industry and win new audiences abroad.

The award for best dialogue went to the thriller "Ishqiya" (Love).

Anushka Sharma won for best leading female role for the romantic comedy "Band Baaja Baaraat" (The Wedding Planners), which marked the directing debut of Maneesh Sharma.

Arjun Rampal and Prachi Desai won awards for best supporting roles in the thriller "Raajneeti" (Politics) and the gangster movie "Once Upon A Time In Mumbai," respectively.

Ritesh Deshmukh, who co-hosted the Indian film industry's glitziest awards show with Boman Irani, won best performance in a comic role in the Tamil film remake "Housefull."

"Who said award shows are not fixed?" he quipped. "If you host the awards show for four years, they give you an award."

The nominations came from more than 1,500 votes from the Indian film fraternity.