Sonakshi Sinha publicly declares her crush on actor Ranveer Singh!

Sonakshi Sinha publicly declared her crush on the Band Baaja Barat actor Ranveer Singh. She couldn’t stop gushing about the newbie and said she would have loved to date him, if he was single.

Freshly, at the IIFA award function, Anushka Sharma was supposed to perform with Ranveer Singh. The duo rehearsed for their performance, however, at the last moment, Anishka was told by organizers that Sonakshi was a better fit.

A source disclosed, “At the last moment Anushka was replaced by Sonakshi to dance with Ranveer. The organizers said that Anushka was not well prepared, and thus they couldn’t take any chances.”

Looks like Anushka really had a tough time at Toranto. To make matters worse, while receiving an award Lisa Ray mispronounced her name as ‘Anushka Shankar’. Even though Karan Johar was quick to correct that, Anushka’s expression said it all.

The actress, though, genially accepted her award and thanked Karan for correcting the mistake. Fortunately, things seemed to have lightened up for Anushka, when Ranveer, upon accepting his award, told, “Thanks Anushka for making me hot!”

No gowns, Mallika wears gold sari!

It's rare to see Mallika Sherawat covering up herself well enough, but here was a treat! After making numerous appearances in gowns and revealing dresses with plunging necklines at international events, the actress chose to go completely desi on the first day of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards.

She chose a subtle cream and gold sari for the inaugural press conference Thursday morning and teamed it with a simple blouse, instead of a sexy one.

In the evening, at the green carpet for the premiere of her movie 'Double Dhamaal', the 'Hisss' girl was seen in a classic black and gold achkan-style kurta with pants, and carried the look with elan.

Why choose to suddenly look Indian?

'Kyun (Why)? You don't like it?' she shot back, and included, 'I have worn a lot of dresses and gowns to the Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival. I was getting bored of them...So I decided it would be a good time for an Indian dose.'

Well, one thing's for sure, whether she is wears Indian or western, Mallika's presence is sexy!

Boman Irani’s nervousness due to craziness of FANS at IIFA

Boman Irani with Ritesh Deshmukh

The actor, who will host the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards night at the Roger's Centre in Toronto Saturday, along with Riteish Deshmukh, is nervous after seeing the craze for Indian stars not just among the Indians residing in Canada, but among the Canadians too!

'The craze here is awesome. There's so much love, so much excitement...that it has begun frightening me. Their excitement means increased expectations from us. Hopefully, we will do our best,' told Boman.

This will be Boman's fourth year as the host of IIFA awards night, and he makes a rocking team with Riteish year after year!

Hollywood’s Dalton McGuinty praises bollywood and its magic worldwide at IIFA

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty with Anil Kapoor

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Preity Zinta and Anil Kapoor

The song, the dance, the drama, the action withstanding - Bollywood is 'magic', told Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty at the inaugural press conference of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards on Thursday.

'More than the glamour, action, drama, Bollywood is all about magic!' McGuinty, who heads the government of Canada's largest province of which Toronto is capital’, said journalists.

'We have the second largest community of Indians living outside Canada. But of course the Canadians should be ready to be awed and amazed by the magic of Bollywood. Canadians will soon know look at Shah Rukh Khan as Johnny Depp and Priyanka Chopra as the Angelina Jolie of Bollywood,' he included.

McGuinty recalled a strange but humorous brush that he had with the frenzy attached with the Hindi film industry in his last trip to Mumbai.

'I came for an event, and the paparazzi went click, click...till one man said...'Sir, you're blocking my view of Celina Jaitley'! I was zapped. I have never been able to recover from that...but that gave me a good sense of how crazy people are for Bollywood,' he told.

IIFA is a three-day show and has brought a flurry of stars including Mallika Sherawat, Anil Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Boman Irani, among others to Toronto. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be adding glamour to the event too.

Indian consul general Preeti Saran hopes the event will boost the bilateral relations between the two countries with Bollywood's 'midas touch'.

Mallika Sherawat’s closeness with Ontario Premier at IIFA!

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty

Mallika Sherawat

This one never misses a golden chance. After getting clicked with US President Barack Obama, Indian actress Mallika Sherawat was seen in chat with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA).

The actress, who has made a name for herself in the international press thanks to her appearance with Jackie Chan at the Cannes International Film Festival for Chinese movie 'The Myth', is here for the premiere of her forthcoming film 'Double Dhamaal' and to promote her international project 'Politics of Love'.

'This is my first time at the IIFA awards. I just want to enjoy and have a great time,' told Mallika, who will also groove to Bollywood tracks at the awards night Saturday.

Extraordinarily dressed in a sari, with a simple blouse, Mallika was among a host of Bollywood celebrities like Anil Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Bipasha Basu, Boman Irani, Riteish Deshmukh, Anupam Kher, Subhash Ghai, Satish Kaushik and Sonu Niigaam, who were invited on stage for the inaugural press conference for the three-day IIFA Weekend and Awards.

While all the actors moved down the stage, Mallika chose to stay on and engaged the Premier in some animated conversation, inviting several clicks from the paparazzi in the bargain.

Astonishingly, this was the same Mallika, who was hiding away from the media, and refused to talk to media persons at a midnight market here Wednesday night.

A source said, 'Mallika was throwing a lot of tantrums. She refused to speak to the media, and took trolleys full of clothes to try at The Bay (a store) so that she could avoid the media.'

And it seems that, she was 'jetlagged' after a flight from Los Angeles to Toronto!

A cocktail named 'Raj Kapoor martini' in the memory of Raj kapoor at IIFA!

'Raj Kapoor martini' named pegs in the 'Raja Hotel' mark IIFA in Toronto

Toronto's historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel has gone Indian for the 12th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards beginning here June 23.

Rechristened itself Fairmont 'Raja' York Hotel for the biggest Bollywood show in North America, the hotel has also invented a cocktail called 'Raj Kapoor martini' for its guests.

The idea to rename the legendary hotel for the IIFA week was mooted by Toronto's known Indophile and travel writer Mariellen Ward. The hotel has also turned its York's Deli into Delhi Deli with new menu items for the three-day show.

The new menu items are 'encouraged by everything from tangy Bombay street snacks to home style curries with distinctive flavors and authentic recipes using the finest and freshest ingredients the Delhi deli way -items such as chai, samosas, pakoras and more are on the menu,'' according to Melanie Coates, public relations director at the hotel.

As many as new five mocktails and cocktails await Bollywood stars and guests at the hotel.

These 'range from the distinguished Raj Kapoor martini of Victoria Gin and Polar Ice Vodka, to a Watermelon Mojito made with or without rum and muddled rooftop mint, to a playful Filmi Fizz of tropical flavours paired with Lambs Navy Rum and finally the Kashmir featuring saffron, vodka, mixed with the sweet juices of oranges and mangos,'' says the hotel PR director.

Further, in accordance with IIFA's concept of 'green carpet' to promote awareness about global warming, the hotel is rolling out the green carpet for its guests form June 22 to June 26.

'The Fairmont Royal York is walking the same green carpet as it upholds IIFA's commitment to environmental stewardship by way of its already well established environmental practices: reducing, recycling, reusing, redistributing and rooftop gardening. It is anticipated that at least one Indian film star will rise to new heights while visiting the hotel's rooftop garden and apiary,'' tells Melanie.

Canada's landmark hotel is also holding its first-ever Indian Wedding Show June 22 just before the IIFA kick-off.