Indian historical epic sweeps 'Bollywood Oscars'
Online Desk
26 Jun 2016 01:20 AM । Update: 26 Jun 2016 01:20 AM
Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, Indian actress Sonakshi Sinha and Indian actress Deepika Padukone attend the press conference for the 17th edition of IIFA Awards (International Indian Film Academy Awards) in Madrid on June 23, 2016. The IIFA Awards are prese
Indian historical epic "Bajirao Mastani" swept the "Bollywood Oscars" early Sunday, taking home awards for best director, best supporting actress and best male actor for leading man Ranveer Singh, AFP reports.
The movie, which sees Singh play an 18th century Maratha warrior, picked up nine other technical awards at the International Indian Film Academy awards, including for choreography and best cinematography.
"I am quite overwhelmed by all of this," the movie's director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, said as he picked up his prize at the International Film Academy awards being held this year in Spain for the first time.
"I don't want to thank anyone for this film. I think thank you is just not enough for this film," he added to applause from the 5,000-strong crowd gathered at Madrid's IFEMA congress center for the event.
"Bajirao Mastani" made around 3.5 billion rupees ($52 million) according to industry estimates, and it has already picked up a number of Indian film awards this year.
Singh in turn said he learned "how to be singleminded and uncompromising in the pursuit of excellence" by working with Bhansali on the film.
"I hope we will continue to make magic together," the 30-year-old actor, who impressed audiences in his 2010 debut as a street-smart Delhi wedding planner in the romantic comedy "Band Baaja Baaraat".
The best picture award went to "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" staring Salman Khan, whose character embarks on a journey to reunite a mute six-year-old Pakistani girl stuck in India with her parents in Pakistan.
The movie was the biggest-grossing Bollywood film of 2015, earning around 6.26 billion rupees.
Sridevi Kapoor, considered by many to be the first female superstar of Hindi cinema, was honored with a lifetime achievement award.
The award show, which celebrates the Hindi language film industry known as Bollywood, takes place in a different city outside of India every year in the hope of luring new audiences to the genre.
