BH CORRESPONDENT, Mumbai: International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), one of the biggest award ceremonies for the Indian film industry, especially Bollywood, has been cancelled over growing fears regarding the coronavirus scare that has gripped the world and recently the nation as the total number of infected people shot up to 31.
While rumours are abuzz that Cannes International Film Festival might be rescheduled over coronavirus scare, IIFA has been cancelled. The ceremony was supposed to be held from 27-29 March in Indore, Madhya Pradesh but has been shifted to later dates. Announcements are yet to be made regarding when.
IIFA organisers put out an official statement, saying, “With due regard to the growing concerns around the spread of the COVID-19 virus and keeping the health and safety of IIFA’s fans and the general community at large, after consulting the Madhya Pradesh government, the IIFA management, and stakeholders from the film industry it has been decided to postpone to a later date the much-awaited IIFA Weekend and Awards 2020 celebrations which were originally scheduled at the end of March 2020.”
It also added, “A fresh date and plans for hosting IIFA in Madhya Pradesh will be announced at the earliest. IIFA is fully committed to ensure the safety of the citizens and legions of IIFA fans who travel from across the globe to attend and experience the magic of IIFA.We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused, and hope that all concerned understand the sensitivity of the situation.”
Bollywood actors also seem to be scared of the coronavirus as Deepika Padukone recently cancelled her trip to France for the Paris Fashion Week while the Thailand leg of shooting for Salman Khan’s film Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai was also cancelled for the same.