After being held in Yorkshire last year, 2008's International Indian Film Awards (IIFAs) will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from June 6. Why Bangkok? Amitabh Bachchan, brand ambassador of the IIFAs explains: “The idea is to move to different parts of the universe, to try and make this a global effort; to build bridges rather than just make this another awards ceremony.”

Director Karan Johar will host the IIFAs award ceremony. Actors Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, and Govinda are confirmed to attend. The highlight will be the premiere of Sarkar Raj, the Godfather remake, which reunites all three Bachchans – Amitabh, his son Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan – after their last screen appearance in Bunty aur Babli.

Bachchan is also excited about his upcoming Unforgettable World Tour which will be unveiled in Toronto from July 18. “We are going to Europe and America and the West Indies; Trinidad is one of the places.” In addition to the Bachchans, Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta and Ritesh Deshmukh are confirmed to appear in the song and dance extravaganza. Madhuri Dixit, the leading actress of the 90s, will be joining the global show. Dixit confirms: “We are in talks.”

Putting on weight

Aishwarya Rai looked stunning in her various appearances on the red carpet at this year’s Cannes Film Festival so it is a mystery as to why she has been told to lose weight. Tamil director Shankar has allegedly asked Ash to revert to her stick-thin Dhoom 2 look for her forthcoming Robot. Her secretary confirms: “The weight loss is necessary because Ash had put on weight for her role in ‘Jodhaa Akbar’.” Has marital bliss led the self-confessed foodie to pile on the pounds or is a baby B on the way? Let’s wait and see!

Cowboy Khan

“The first horse I rode was called Charlie and he was really cute,” Salman Khan reveals. “Once the saddle broke and he smiled at me as if daring to ride bareback and I did!” Khan’s latest horse is called Maximus and it is one of four which he has stabled at his farmhouse. Khan is perfecting his riding skills for his role in the forthcoming Veer. It is not the Bollywood version of this week’s release Zoo which deals with people who share a predilection for animals.

Goa lovers

The recent tragic murder of a British teenager in Goa has not deterred Bollywood and international celebrities from vacationing and even buying holiday homes in the Indian state. Meg Ryan recently spent a week in the former Portuguese colony. Akshay Kumar bought a bungalow near to the famous Anjuna Beach and the latest to gush about Goa is former Miss Universe turned Bollywood actress Lara Dutta. “I plan to spend my weekends and holidays with my family at this second home. I love Goa!”

Indiana John

After cutting his trademark long locks for his recent release Goal, John Abraham will sport a new look for his forthcoming Aashayein. John will adopt the Indiana Jones outfit as both the director Nagesh Kukunoor and John are major fans of the series. Kukunoor openly admits that it was only after watching Raiders of the Lost Ark that he decided to become a director.

Just good friends

Is former Miss World turned Bollywood hottie Priyanka Chopra dating her Love Story 2050 co-star Harman Baweja? Chopra, in true Bollywood fashion, denied this: “He’s a good friend; I am friends with all my co-stars. I don’t call Harman at 4 in the morning.” Baweja, on the other hand, was not so boringly discreet when he was asked to name his one 4am friend: “Priyanka Chopra.”

Just close friends

It looks like the Aamir Khan-Shah Rukh Khan blog war is over. Last week Aamir apologised for any offence he may have caused by revealing that his pet dog was called Shah Rukh. “The blog was just in good humour. My sincere apologies to all who were disturbed by that posting. There is no misunderstanding between Shah Rukh and me. We are close friends.”

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