Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was honored with the Best Actress Award for her exceptional performance in the Tamil epic Ponniyin Selvan 2 at the IIFA Utsavam 2024 event, held in Abu Dhabi on Friday, September 27. Her portrayal in the historical drama has garnered widespread acclaim from both critics and fans alike. The actress attended the prestigious ceremony accompanied by her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, and photos and videos from the event have been circulating on social media ever since.
One of the most talked-about moments from the event was a heartwarming gesture Aishwarya made towards renowned filmmaker Mani Ratnam, the director of Ponniyin Selvan 2. In a viral video, Aishwarya is seen respectfully touching Ratnam’s feet before presenting him with the Best Director (Tamil) award for the film. The two then shared a warm hug on stage, a moment that fans have been celebrating online. Aishwarya’s humility and respect towards Ratnam were widely appreciated by her admirers. Speaking to the media at the event, the actress expressed her deep admiration for the filmmaker, referring to him as her "guru." She stated, "From the beginning, I’ve been grateful to work with Mani Ratnam. It’s an honor to have played Nandini in Ponniyin Selvan and to share this success with our team."
The collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has a rich history, with the duo having worked together on several notable films including Iruvar, Guru, Raavan, and both installments of Ponniyin Selvan. For the event, Aishwarya donned a striking black outfit designed by Manish Malhotra, adorned with intricate golden thread work.
The night was a celebration of the success of Ponniyin Selvan 2, with several awards being presented to the film's team. Vikram took home the Best Actor (Tamil) award for his role in the film, while music legend AR Rahman was recognized with the Best Music Direction award. Actor Jayaram was also honored with the Best Supporting Actor (Male – Tamil) award for his performance in the film. The evening marked a triumphant celebration of one of Tamil cinema’s most successful films in recent times.
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