Khans in, Bachchans out

While Bollywood arch rivals Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will play cricket on the same team in Colombo during the International Indian Film Academy awards, the brand ambassador for the event, Amitabh Bachchan will only make a fleeting appearance.

While Bollywood arch rivals Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will play cricket on the same team in Colombo during the International Indian Film Academy awards, the brand ambassador for the event, Amitabh Bachchan will only make a fleeting appearance.

“Mr Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador of IIFA so he will surely fulfill his duty,” said Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft, the show’s organiser, adding that Big B will attend it briefly.

Though touted as a Bachchan-family event, this year both Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan will stay away from IIFA. “Abhishek has back-to-back shoots lined up,” said Abhishek’s spokesperson. “Ash is going to attend the French open,” said Ash’s spokesperson.

Instead, King Khan and Sallu will sizzle up the three-day gala. “Salman, Shah Rukh, Hrithik Roshan, Riteish Deshmukh, Anil Kapoor will play a friendly cricket match against Sri Lankan cricketers,” said Joseph.

“SRK’s will be the grand finale performance. Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu will also perform,” said Joseph,

Interestingly, Abhi-Ash starrer

Raavan

which was to be screened at IIFA, has been withdrawn in favour of Prakash Jha’s

Raajneeti

and Anil Kapoor’s

Aisha

. “I am trying my best to take

Aisha

to IIFA. We’re racing against time,” said Kapoor.