Filmmaker Karan Johar who was among the prominent Bollywood personality to cast his vote to kickstart the nomination process said IIFA has always moved into new markets, this year it has made foray into Canada and it is even more special because of the Raj Kapoor retrospective.
"We are all friends of IIFA and will always be there to support this event. For some time now we have been looked at as an industry but that has changed now and we are happy to be recognised as part of a fraternity or one family," he said.
Kareena Kapoor, who was the first to cast her vote said her family was humbled because of the Raj Kapoor retrospective at the IIFA Weekend.
"He was not only my grandfather but also a person who contributed so much to the film fraternity. We are humbled by this initiative. However busy I am I will always make time to be there for IIFA and will be this year in Toronto," she said.
IIFA plans to have a special tribute to the veteran actor-director in association with the Toronto International Film Festival.
"The entire Kapoor family is being invited and special tributes to the late filmmaker is being planned through screening of some of his classics. Details are being worked out and announcement will be made soon," sources said.
Anil Kapoor said the film industry was looking forward to this year`s IIFA and are baffled in the manner the tickets were sold out within the first couple of minutes.
"I request each and everyone here to make these awards the best awards of our country," he appealed.