Bollywood casts its spell on Indian film awards

Actor Hrithik Roshan won top honors at the Global Indian Film Awards on Saturday as glitzy Bollywood put on a dazzling display of unshaven heroes, figure- hugging saris and outrageous dance routines.

Reflecting the global appeal of Indian films, thousands of Malaysian fans screamed as leading men Shahrukh Khan and Roshan and actress Bipasha Basu arrived for the Kuala Lumpur ceremony.

Roshan won best actor for his part in saving the world in the sci-fi drama "Krrish," but the undeclared winner was Indian film, which rivals Hollywood for the hearts of Southeast Asian movie-goers.

Bollywood churns out about 1,000 films a year, making it the world's most prolific film center, and markets them to a growing band of non-Indians who have fallen for the genre as well as the vast Indian diaspora.

"We are brought up with Bollywood films. It's part of our culture," said 32-year-old ethnic Indian Sharon Kaur, jostling for space beside the red carpet.

The ceremonies are held abroad to help sell Indian films and stars to a global audience, with Bollywood films now launching internationally in Britain, North America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The academy estimates that most Indian films generate 15-20 percent of their revenues from overseas.

"This is the most successful year in the box office ... and still counting," actor Arbaaz Khan said as he presented some of the nominations.

Most of the featured movies bore the hallmarks of Indian cinema: brooding heroes, beautiful maidens and lavish dance routines.

A comedy starring burly Bollywood veteran Sanjay Dutt, recently convicted of possessing illegal weapons but cleared of bomb-conspiracy charges, won best picture.

In "Lage Raho Munnabhai," he plays an underworld figure who meets the ghost of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.

Best director went to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for "Rang De Basanti," a serious film starring actress Alice Patten, daughter of Britain's last governor in Hong Kong, Chris Patten. It deals with corruption, cynical politics and the spirit of independence.

Patten was nominated for best actress but the award went to Basu for her role in "Corporate" about corporate rivalry.

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