Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan declared “it’s good to be back” as he won best actor at the International Indian Film Academy Awards on Saturday after a long absence from the limelight.
The 58-year-old stole the show as event co-host before walking off with the coveted prize for his role in the action thriller Jawan, capping a five-hour show in Abu Dhabi.
“I just want to tell you it’s good to be back,” he told a packed crowd in the capital of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, which has a large Indian population.
“I love awards, I’m greedy about awards… I think I have a little happiness from the audience this year because I worked (again) after a long time,” he added.
The event, which ended at 2:30 a.m., featured comedy skits by Khan and Vicky Kaushal, along with dance performances. Shahid Kapoor made a dramatic entrance on a motorbike, and Khan received tributes amid fireworks.
After a five-year break from starring roles, Khan returned with Jawan and Pathaan. This comeback comes as Bollywood faces challenges from rising non-Hindi productions and independent films like All We Imagine as Light, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes. The industry is also struggling against streaming services like Netflix.
Elara Capital estimates box office earnings were down 35 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to last year, although 2023 was strong as Bollywood rebounded post-COVID. Abu Dhabi hosted the event for the third consecutive year, having only been held in India once since 2000. AFP
