Tampa mayor: City ‘in love’ with Bollywood, Indian culture during IIFA awards event

By Tamara Lush, The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. – Indian cinema, food and style have overtaken Tampa as it prepares to host the 15th annual International Indian Film Academy awards.

While the actual award ceremony isn’t until Saturday, Bollywood celebrities, directors and fans have been streaming into the city all week in preparation for the main event.

From the pre-teens at the airport screaming for autographs of their favourite Indian actors, to Gov. Rick Scott touting the economic benefits of the four-day event, Bollywood is everywhere.

On Thursday, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ film star Anil Kapoor danced onstage with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn at a news conference. Later that night, fans and celebrities partied during an invite-only fashion and music extravaganza.

This is the first time the IIFA awards show has been held in the United States.

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Follow Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush

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