MUMBAI: March 28th 2012 witnessed the launch of the ?Walk of the Stars?, an iconic tribute to the Indian Film Industry, in Mumbai. The property was inaugurated amongst much grandeur at the Bandra Bandstand promenade with the felicitation of the legendary Kapoor Khandaan by none other than Kareena Kapoor! UTV STARS, the channel that spearheaded the inception of the Walk of the Stars in India, has already taken steps to take this initiative global! And what better place to do so than the ?IIFA?, The International Indian Film Academy, a first-of-its-kind effort to promote Indian Cinema globally and a celebration of Indian Cinema, thus reaching out to millions of its fans.
This tie up is a part of a larger effort to take the ?Walk of the Stars? global. The relationship with IIFA will extend to the launch of the property in Gurgaon at the ?Kingdom of Dreams? in association with Wizcraft, the brain behind IIFA! Though there is no confirmed date yet, channel sources have it that stars will decend at the iconic ?Walk of the Stars? in Gurgaon soon! Subsequently there are plans to also take the Walk of the Stars property to the UK and Middle East.
At IIFA 2012 UTV Stars will honour and felicitate the contribution of some of the legendary actors of the yesteryears and the contemporaries of today! The list of actors who were felicitated comprises none other than Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Ranbir Kapoor and Vidya Balan. While Shammi Kapoor and Dev Anand were felicitated at the IIFA Rocks Event held on 8th June 2012, Ranbir and Vidya were felicitated on the day of the main Awards ceremony at the IIFA Green Carpet which was held on June 9 th 2012. Shammi ji and Dev Saab were felicitated by Randhir Kapoor, Rajeev Kapoor and Ramesh Sippy while Ranbir and Vidya unveiled their own handprints!
A customized slab bearing Ranbir and Vidya?s handprints and Shammi Kapoor and Dev Saab?s Signatures were unveiled at the IIFA 2012.
Commenting on the association with IIFA 2012, Nikhil Gandhi, Business Head, UTV STARS, said:
?We?re extremely delighted with our association with IIFA. Both UTV STARS and IIFA, are iconic Bollywood brands and have created immense value for the Indian Film Industry over the years. This is an extension to our endeavour of paying tribute to the superstars of Bollywood. The UTV STARS IIFA Walk of the Stars is a big step in making this a grand success.?
Commenting on the association with UTV STARS, Sabbas Joseph, Director, Wizcraft, said: ?IIFA is a
first of its kind effort to take Indian Cinema global and celebrate it in the true sense. UTV STARS Walk of the Stars, on the other hand, is a great effort at paying an iconic tribute to the people who?ve been and are an integral part of the Indian Film industry. Our ideologies put together are an endeavour towards honouring the greats of Indian Cinema!?