Shah Rukh will Host the Filmfare Awards tonight

A black tie-and-gown evening where the glitz and gloss will be provided by Bollywood’s top stars as they walk down the red carpet of the Yash Raj Studios in Andheri from 7 pm onwards.

Inside, and leading a selected and invited audience through the awards ceremony, will be Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan and Chhote Nawab Saif Ali Khan. Emcee entertainment, naturally, is guaranteed to take on a whole new bold and exciting meaning with these two gentlemen on stage.

The lovely Vidya Balan is the third emcee of the evening. Then, of course, the show belongs to the stars who have been nominated for the prestigious black statuette. What names of winners the envelope reveals, who takes home the prestigious award, will be known only later tonight.

Meanwhile, to give you a peep behind the curtain, the awards ceremony this year has some real winners entertaining on stage. Like the sexy Kareena Kapoor and dazzling Deepika Padukone, watch them dance, and Khiladi Akshay Kumar, who turns out an outstanding performance, while there’s also Himesh Reshammiya, Vivek Oberoi and Neil Nitin Mukesh, all taking the razzmatazz a notch higher.

Bombay Times was privy to the rehearsals over the past few days at Yash Raj Studios. So was Karisma Kapoor who sat with Saif and watched kid sis Kareena swish through numbers like It’s Rocking and Mauja Re Mauja.

Watching also from the wings, and staying back till a late hour, was young Ranbir Kapoor. His whole attention was on the ravishing Deepika Padukone who will dance to Dhun Tana Nana Dhun and Aankho Mein Teri from her debut film Om Shanti Om.

Akshay Kumar, a veteran at such things, will perform to the superhit numbers of 2007 Hey Babby, Hare Ram, Hare Ram and the title track from Welcome.

Neil Nitin Mukesh, excited to be at his first Filmfare Awards function, is doing the title track of his Johnny Gaddar and Move The Body from the same film. "I have always watched the Filmfare Awards from afar, to be a part of it now is an honour for me," he said. And, finally, Vivek Oberoi, who will remind the audience of Aye Ganpat from Shootout at Lokhandwala. "I’m excited, the song’s one of my favourites, but it’s done here in a very different and fantastic way," he revealed. As for Himeshbhai, he will say Aasalum Waleum, so be sure to reply Walekaum Salam!

The dances have been choreographed by Shiamak Davar while Manish Malhotra has designed the costumes worn by Kareena and Deepika and Narendra Kumar those for Neil and Vivek. Sabina Khan has dressed up Akshay.

Times Of India