Akshay Kumar, Rani Mukherji, Karisma Kapoor, Aftab Shivdasani, Esha Deol with mom Hema Malini, and singers Sukhwinder Singh and Richa Sharma put in an appearance. A few surprises also came the crowd's way with Egyptian singer Ishtar performing live and the first Indian American to make it to the WWF, Killer Khalsa, giving Kumar a run for his money in a mock fight.

Ishtar, who toured India two years ago, told rediff.com that her fascination with India started with watching Hindi films with her mother. "I remember this song, though I do not remember the film or the actors, Ichak dana, pichak dana. I also love listening to Pandit Ravi Shankar's instrumental music."

Akshay Kumar won the prize for best actor in a sensational role for his comic turn as a gangster in Awara Paagal Deewana, a change from his usual action hero roles. The other contenders for the award were Vivek Oberoi (Company), Amitabh Bachchan (Kaante) and Shah Rukh Khan (Devdas). Kumar did not immediately receive his award because he was backstage putting on props for his dance sequence that was coming up next.

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