Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Touches Mani Ratnam's Feet on IIFA Stage After His Best Director Win | Watch

The IIFA Utsavam 2024, held at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, was a night to remember as stars from South Indian and Bollywood cinema graced the event. The celebration reached a heartfelt peak when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan touched filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s feet after presenting him with Best Director (Tamil) award for Ponniyin Selvan: II. A viral video from the event captured this touching moment, symbolising the deep respect Aishwarya holds for her “guru.”

Speaking to the media at IIFA, Aishwarya expressed her gratitude: “He’s my guru. From the beginning, I’ve been grateful to work with Mani Ratnam. It’s an honor to have played Nandini in Ponniyin Selvan and to share this success with our team.”

The IIFA Utsavam turned into a blockbuster event as Ponniyin Selvan: II won big. Vikram secured the Best Actor (Tamil) award for his exceptional performance, and Aishwarya took home the Best Actress (Tamil) award for her stunning portrayal of Nandini in the same film. Aishwarya, in her stunning Manish Malhotra ensemble, reflected on how the film has been embraced by audiences, talking about the collective effort behind its success.

“Each of them in my heart is nominated. And each of them is a winner because the audience has loved that piece of cinema. So thank you for your love. Thank you for your support,” Aishwarya told the media.

Other major winners of the night included Rajinikanth’s Jailer, which won Best Picture (Tamil), and Nani, who took home the Best Actor (Telugu) award for Dasara.

The glittering green carpet event was a spectacle, with stars like Rana Daggubati, Chiranjeevi, AR Rahman, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Karan Johar, and Vicky Kaushal in attendance. The event celebrated the best of South Indian cinema, while also bringing together Bollywood icons to mark the occasion.

The IIFA Awards 2024 are set to be held on September 28, hosted by none other than Shah Rukh Khan, promising yet another unforgettable night of glamour and performances by stars like Rekha, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.