IIFA 2025: Shah Rukh Khan steals the show while ‘Laapataa Ladies’ sweeps multiple awards

Shah Rukh Khan steals the show at the Silver Jubilee iteration of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA)

If seizing 2024’s IIFA with his impeccable wit and charisma was not enough, Shah Rukh Khan did it once again at this year’s award ceremony. After three consecutive years at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, it’s homecoming time for the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA). For the first time in Jaipur and the second year in India (the 20th awards ceremony was in Mumbai), IIFA pulled off a stunning awards night filled with everything from pleasantly surprising wins to some electrifying performances — and, of course, Shah Rukh Khan!

Like in last year’s edition, director and producer Karan Johar took the reins of co-hosting the awards ceremony and his partner in crime this year was Kartik Aaryan. The film that made the biggest mark was Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, bagging multiple awards, including Best Editing, Lyrics, Music Direction, Film and Direction. With the number of awards the film won, Karan said he assumes the comedy-drama is the film with the most IIFA awards ever (the record is still held by Devdas (2002) and 3 Idiots (2009) with 16 awards each).

Kartik Aaryan won Best Performance in a Leading Role (Male) for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, while the Best Performance in a Leading Role (Female) was nabbed by Nitanshi Goel for Laapataa Ladies. The Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema was given to Rakesh Roshan whose dance performances with fellow veteran Rekha was one of the night’s best moments.

Speaking of performances, Kareena Kapoor Khan paid a heartfelt tribute to 100 years of the legendary Raj Kapoor. Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon also put up stunning performances.

Unsurprisingly, it was Shah Rukh Khan who stole the show. With a small cameo from Madhuri, Shah Rukh went on to perform some of his yesteryear classics such as ‘Say Shava Shava’ and ‘Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha’, songs from Don and Chennai Express, as well as his recent hit Jawan. The performance, which started with a drone show tribute to SRK, hit a crescendo when a train set was brought on stage for the actor to get on top of it and dance to ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Debut Female: Pratibha Ranta - Laapataa Ladies