'Taken me 30 years from 'Sallu', 'Saale' to 'Bhai''

The 20th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) will be held in Mumbai.

Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Madhuri Dixit announced the festival, which will run from September 16 to 18.

Salman said he established a special bond with the audiences ever since his 1989 smash hit, Maine Pyar Kiya, and that he has maintained it till date.

He said it has taken him nearly 30 years to get the love and support from his fans, and now, he will work hard to live up to their expectations.

"It's taken me about 30 years, from 'Sallu' and 'Saale' to 'Bhai' and 'Bhaijaan.' It has taken me a long time to achieve that," Salman said.

"Not that I earlier didn't but I am going to work hard for them to always get to see me on screen, on TV and in real life. They spend so much to watch our films, that needs to be appreciated," he added.

The award ceremony will see a host of performances by Katrina, Salman, Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Madhuri Dixit and Sara Ali Khan.

IIFA Rocks, the sidebar event that celebrates the work of people behind the films, will be hosted by Radhika Apte and Ali Fazal.

Music composers Amit Trivedi, Salim–Sulaiman, Neha Kakkar and Jassi Gill, among others, are set to perform.

IIFA awards will be hosted by Arjun Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana.

Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar