Wednesday 07 / October / 2026
Muscat: Ever imagined Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan and American comedian and actor Kevin Hart hosting a show together? Or American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and Indian music composer A.R. Rahman sharing the stage? What about Jennifer Lopez and Hrithik Roshan dancing together?
Such collaborations could become a reality with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) planning to launch a new English-language awards platform in the United States in 2028, bringing Indian and Hollywood cinema together on an international stage.
IIFA co-founder and director IIFA, Andre Timmins revealed the plans in an interview with Times of Oman, saying the proposed platform would create a new space for Indian and American talent to collaborate and celebrate cinema.
Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman ahead of IIFA’s return to Abu Dhabi in January, Timmins said the new initiative would represent a major expansion of the IIFA brand while retaining its connection with Indian cinema.
“We are launching IIFA America in 2028, which is going to be fully English,” Timmins said.
He described the proposed event as a global entertainment platform that could bring together major names from both the Indian and American entertainment industries.
“The content is going to be like for example say a Shah Rukh and Kevin Hart hosting. It’s like Billie Eilish and A.R. Rahman performing. It’s like Hrithik and Jennifer Lopez,” he said.
“So we are launching an international version in 2028, which the world is waiting for. That will be a different event. But it’s again honouring Hollywood and Indian cinema.”
Timmins said the expansion would allow IIFA to build a bridge between the two major film industries while ensuring that the organisation did not lose its Indian identity. “We are not leaving our roots from here,” he said. “I’m still honouring people from India.”
The announcement comes as IIFA prepares for its fourth showcase in Abu Dhabi, with the 27th edition of IIFA Weekend and Awards scheduled for January 22 and 23, 2027, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
The event is being held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral.
Timmins said the move towards a broader international platform was part of IIFA’s continuing evolution from an Indian film awards event into a global entertainment brand.
As part of that evolution, IIFA is also introducing a new award in its 2027 programme for a Hollywood film that has performed strongly in India.
“What we are doing this year is also integrating one of the best Hollywood films that’s done well in India. So we are integrating one award for Hollywood,” Timmins said.
He said the award would recognise a Hollywood film based on its performance at the Indian box office, with an advisory board involved in the selection.
“It’s something new, never done in the world,” he said. The Hollywood component in Abu Dhabi is therefore expected to serve as an early indication of the direction IIFA intends to take with its larger international ambitions.
