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The Communiqué News

IIFA 2027 Returns to Abu Dhabi: Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Star-Studded Celebration Began at The Grand Hyatt, Mumbai

Swati Bhat
4 min read

The 27th edition of IIFA will take place on January 22–23 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, featuring Bollywood performances, digital entertainment awards and its first global YouTube livestream.

IIFA 2027 Abu Dhabi announcement featuring Bollywood hosts and performers for the January awards ceremony at Yas Island.

Mumbai, October 22, 2026: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) has officially set the stage for its 27th edition, announcing a return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on January 22 and 23, 2027. The announcement, made during a press conference in Mumbai, unveiled a major lineup of Bollywood celebrities, performances and international partnerships, including a first-ever global livestream collaboration with YouTube.

With Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Nora Fatehi announced as performers, IIFA 2027 is positioning itself as a major international celebration of Indian cinema and entertainment.

Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul, Ananya Panday, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi and Abhishek Banerjee to Host IIFA Awards 2027

The 27th edition of the IIFA Awards promises an exciting blend of glamour, entertainment and engaging performances, with some of Indian cinema's most celebrated personalities taking centre stage. Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul and Ananya Panday will host the main IIFA Awards ceremony, bringing together Johar's signature wit, Dhawan's infectious energy, Paul's effortless humour and Panday's youthful charm.

Adding another dimension to the celebrations, the IIFA Digital Awards 2027 will be hosted by acclaimed actors Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Abhishek Banerjee. Known for their distinctive performances across cinema and streaming platforms, the trio is expected to bring a refreshing combination of humour, spontaneity and cinematic flair to the digital awards stage. The entertainment quotient will rise further with a spectacular lineup of performances featuring Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Nora Fatehi. From Bollywood's established superstars to contemporary audience favourites, the performances are set to celebrate the diversity, energy and global appeal of Indian cinema, making IIFA 2027 in Abu Dhabi, one of the most anticipated entertainment events of the year.

IIFA 2027 Strengthens Global Partnerships with Sobha Realty, ORN, ZEE and YouTube

The 27th edition of the IIFA Weekend & Awards continues to strengthen its international presence through strategic partnerships with leading global brands. Sobha Realty extends its association with IIFA into 2027, marking four years of collaboration as the Presenting Sponsor of IIFA Weekend and IIFA Digital Awards.

Joining the celebrations, ORN comes on board as the Co-Powered By Sponsor of IIFA Weekend & Awards 2027, bringing its expertise in logistics and technology to the global entertainment platform.

Meanwhile, ZEE continues its longstanding association as IIFA's Official Broadcasting Partner, taking the celebration of Indian cinema to television audiences across more than 120 countries.

In a significant digital milestone, YouTube joins IIFA 2027 as its Official Streaming Partner, introducing the event's first-ever global livestream and the exclusive IIFA Unfiltered experience.

Together, these partnerships underline IIFA's evolving global footprint, connecting Indian cinema, international brands and millions of entertainment enthusiasts across traditional and digital platforms.

IIFA Digital Awards 2027 to Celebrate Streaming Entertainment

Recognising the expanding influence of digital storytelling, IIFA will also host its Digital Awards, with Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Abhishek Banerjee announced as presenters. The digital celebration will feature musical performances by Himesh Reshammiya and Sunidhi Chauhan, bringing two distinctive musical voices to the IIFA stage. The inclusion of a dedicated digital awards ceremony reflects the growing importance of OTT platforms, streaming productions and digital-first entertainment within the Indian screen industry.

IIFA 2027 Announces First-Ever Global YouTube Livestream

One of the most significant developments announced at the Mumbai press conference is IIFA's partnership with YouTube as its official streaming partner.

For the first time, the awards will introduce a global livestream through YouTube, expanding access to audiences beyond the physical venue and traditional television broadcasting. The initiative will also introduce IIFA Unfiltered, a digital offering intended to bring viewers closer to the event and its personalities.

Meanwhile, ZEE will continue as IIFA's broadcasting partner, extending the awards' television reach to audiences across more than 120 countries.

Sobha Realty, ORN Join IIFA 2027's Global Partnerships

IIFA and Sobha Realty have extended their presenting sponsorship association into 2027, marking four years of collaboration. The partnership will continue across IIFA Weekend and the IIFA Digital Awards.

ORN has also joined IIFA Weekend & Awards 2027 as a co-powered-by sponsor, bringing logistics and technology into the event's commercial partnership network.

These associations highlight the continuing appeal of international entertainment events as platforms connecting cinema, global brands and audiences.

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Prepares for Two Days of Indian Cinema

The Etihad Arena on Yas Island will once again provide the setting for IIFA's international celebration. Over more than two decades, IIFA has established a presence beyond India, using its travelling awards format to connect Indian cinema with international audiences. Its return to Abu Dhabi further reinforces the emirate's association with large-scale Indian entertainment events and cultural celebrations. With an extensive celebrity lineup, digital broadcasting initiatives and live performances, the January 2027 edition aims to bring together traditional Bollywood glamour and the evolving digital entertainment landscape.

IIFA 2027 Tickets and Event Dates

January 22–23, 2027

Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

As the countdown begins, IIFA 2027 promises more than a conventional awards ceremony. Its combination of cinema, music, digital entertainment and international streaming marks another chapter in the event's effort to connect Indian storytelling with audiences worldwide.











The winning combination for achieving your best look & real success

The Communiqué
2 min read

Denver, the prestigious masculine brand of India, has recently ventured into face care with an advanced range of Face washes, thereby expanding its outreach to cater to its target audience with enhanced brand experience. In order to create a distinct impact on its customers, Denver has embarked upon a bold and avant-garde campaign, with none other than Bollywood superstar Varun Dhawan endorsing their latest range of face washes.

Famed for their innovative and cutting-edge products, Denver has introduced a brand-new line of face washes to establish a stronger connection with its patrons. While its existing range of perfumes, deodorants and body talc have been widely appreciated, Denver understands that its discerning customers are seeking superior quality face washes with an exquisite fragrance to enhance their grooming routine.

Announcing the association Superstar Varun Dhawan said "I am thrilled to announce my association with Denver, a brand that I have always admired for their commitment to delivering the best. Working with the energetic team at Denver Face Washes has been a great experience, and I am excited to be a part of their growth journey. Together, we will inspire people to achieve their best look and pursue their dreams with confidence. I cannot wait to see what we can achieve together and make a positive impact on people's lives."

"Our latest campaign is a straightforward message to inspire and empower individuals to overcome their innermost obstacles and attain their goals, day by day." In a conversation with the Director of Sales & Marketing at VCPL, Saurabh Gupta expressed his enthusiasm, stating that this partnership with Varun Dhawan presents an exceptional opportunity for Denver to make its mark in the men's grooming segment. He stated "Varun Dhawan is a true reflection of India's youth. With a commendable track record of hard work and dedication towards his family and craft, Varun's values and ethos are akin to those of Denver. His resounding success is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his goals and values, which we, at Denver, uphold and appreciate."

Aditya Yadav, Brand Manager- Denver stated "We are really thrilled, the upcoming campaign is a unique and unparalleled concept that endeavours to inspire individuals to strive for true success. It is an extension to the existing brand equity. I hope that it will be well received by our target audience and enhance our brand's reach and outcomes." Unveiling of the campaign has happened on Instagram from the official handle of Varun Dhawan and Denver on 6th April 2023. Followed by its amplification and airing on national television and on-ground marketing activities.



Varun Dhawan to Lead Indian Version of Russo Brothers ‘Citadel’ Series Franchise

Swati Bhat
2 min read

Bollywood star Varun Dhawan has been confirmed as leading the cast of the Indian instalment of “Citadel,” an espionage action series created by the Russo brothers’ AGBO for Amazon’s Prime Video.


Swati Bhat

Hailing from a film industry dynasty, Dhawan launched his movie career as an assistant director to Karan Johar on “My Name is Khan” and began acting in Johar’s “Student of the Year.” He subsequently starred in films including “Dilwale,” “Dishoom,” “Badlapur” and “October.” Among his 2022 efforts is family comedy “Jugjugg Jeeyo.” The untitled Indian series will start production in January 2023. The production is led by renowned creator duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (together known as Raj & DK), who are the showrunners, directors and executive producers of the series. The screenplay is written by Sita R. Menon,along with Raj & DK.

The series is produced by Raj & DK’s D2R Films and Amazon Studios, with AGBO’s Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot, Scott Nemes, and David Weil (“Hunters”) overseeing production on the Indian original and all series within the global “Citadel” universe. Josh Applebaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg serve as executive producers for Midnight Radio on the untitled Indian original and all series within the “Citadel” universe. Richard Madden (“Bodyguard”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (“Quantico”) and Stanley Tucci have previously been announced as starring in the first-to-launch series within the “Citadel” universe. The show comes from AGBO and Weil and is set to premiere in 2023. Additional local-language “Citadel” productions are also in the works, including an Italian original series starring Matilda De Angelis (“The Undoing”). “We’ve worked very hard collaborating with the other international teams to bring a unique interwoven universe to our audiences,” said Raj & DK. Los Angeles-based AGBO was founded by the Russo brothers and Larocca in 2017. It has credits including “Extraction,” “The Gray Man” and hit indie film “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” D2R Films has credits including “The Family Man” series created and directed by the duo, “Go Goa Gone,” “Shor in the City,” “99” and the film “Stree.”

“The ‘Citadel’ universe [..] is a truly innovative and ambitious approach to storytelling, and we are super excited to begin production on the Indian chapter early next year in January 2023. “With this ground-breaking global-event series with multiple chapters, we are building on our mission of borderless entertainment to produce local original content that can be enjoyed by audiences across the world, where language is no longer a barrier. “ ‘Citadel’ is a truly global franchise, with local productions, across countries, that build back to an inter-connected storyline—a first-of-its-kind innovation in storytelling. “We have a steady pipeline of over 70 projects in various stages of development and production in the country,” said Gaurav Gandhi, VP, Prime Video India.




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