Back to the Thai capital after a decade, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2018 Weekend and Awards, commences on Thursday. A slew of Bollywood celebrities who have descended on Bangkok for the 19th edition of the IIFA celebrations. The gala event will not just feature power-packed performances by celebrities but will seek to raise awareness about women's empowerment, gender equality and plastic pollution.

Commencing the highly-anticipated 19th edition of NEXA IIFA Awards Styled by Myntra with the IIFA Weekend Press Conference at the Marriott Marquis Hotel were various notable dignitaries, members of the media and renowned film fraternity members with a stellar line-up of Bollywood megastars such as Anil Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Arjun Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Rekha, Karan Johar, Riteish Deshmukh, Nushrat Bharucha, Ayushmann Khurrana, Mouni Roy and Anupam Kher. The rendezvous was flagged off with a curtain call.

[embed]https://twitter.com/IIFA/status/1010077773598208001[/embed]

Let the shoe begin!

[embed]https://twitter.com/IIFA/status/1010107109973872640[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/IIFA/status/1010120946060062720[/embed]

Some glimpses of the curtain raiser for you:

Commenting on the occasion, Rekha said “Coming back to IIFA and performing on the grandest stage of all in the beautiful city of Bangkok feels ethereally wonderful. IIFA 2018 is going to be an unforgettable, magical and once-in-a-life time experience for Indian Cinema fans worldwide.”

Sharing his thoughts, Ranbir Kapoor commented, “IIFA Bangkok holds a very special place in my heart, I won the best debutante award at IIFA 2008 in Bangkok. The 19th Edition of IIFA Weekend And Awards is going to be a great one and I am eager to connect with my fans and look forward to giving a power-packed performance.”

Commenting on the occasion, Karan Johar said, “I was privileged to be at the Millennium Dome in London when the IIFAs were born and I’ve participated in the journey across the world. My father and I have been part of the IIFA Advisory Board and share the passion to take Indian cinema across the world. The impact of the IIFAs can be felt in the growth of distribution and film incentives in key markets around the globe. I wish the IIFAs well and more power to the organizing team of Wizcraft.”

Commenting on the association, Dia Mirza, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, said, “I am glad that IIFA has joined the global movement to ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. IIFA’s tremendous reach to audiences across the world will help us build awareness on the need for us to discontinue the use of ‘Single Use Plastics’ and become conscious consumers of plastics. The planet is facing large-scale plastic pollution that is choking our cities, polluting our air, soil, waterways, also destroying marine life and entering our food chain. With IIFA as our partner, our message will be heard and the message is clear, Say NO to single use plastics, ‘If you can’t re-use it, refuse it.’”

Commenting on the occasion, Varun Dhawan said, “IIFA has always held a special place in my heart but that bond became even stronger after Wizcraft and IIFA offered me a chance to pay tribute to my father’s legacy through a special performance last year. I am very excited to put on an amazing show for everyone in Bangkok.”

Ever since its debut in 2000, the IIFA gala has been annually exhibiting the prowess of Bollywood, celebrating the magic of Hindi cinema on foreign shores. The event has been held at picturesque locales like Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Dubai, Colombo, Toronto, Singapore, Tampa Bay, Kuala Lumpur and New York. For its 19th edition, the oorganizers have a glittering show planned at the 2,000-seater Siam Niramit here.

It's show time in Thailand!