New Delhi, Apr 4: Bollywood biggies Shah Rukh and Salman Khan are battling it out alongside Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgn for the coveted Best Actor in a leading role trophy at this year's IIFA awards.
Shah Rukh is nominated for ‘My Name Is Khan', while Salman is in the running due to blockbuster ‘Dabangg'. Hrithik's portrayal of a paraplegic in ‘Guzaarish and Devgn's role of a mafia don in ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai' have included them in the race.
Ranbir Kapoor is the only young actor nominated in the category for his display of histrionics in ‘Raajneeti'.
The Best Director category has a mix of old and new names in the industry. Rubbing shoulders with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar are debutantes like Maneesh Sharma (Band Baaja Baraat), Vikramaditya Motwane (Udaan) and Abhinav Kashyap (Dabangg). Milan Luthria is also nominated in the category for directing ‘Once Upon a Time In Mumbai'.
The Best Actress in a leading role category includes nominees Aishwariya Rai for ‘Guzaarish', Kareena Kapoor for ‘Golmaal 3', Vidya Balan for ‘Ishqiya', Katrina Kaif for ‘Raajneeti' and Anushka Sharma for ‘Band Baaja Baraat'. Pitted against each other in the Best Supporting Actor Male category are Mithun Chakraborty (Golmaal 3), Arshad Warsi (Ishqiya), Emraan Hashmi (Once Upon a Time In Mumbai), Manoj Bajpayee and Arjun Rampal both for ‘Raajneeti'. Newcomer Amrita Puri (Aisha), Prachi Desai (Once Upon a Time In Mumbai), are nominated in the Best Supporting role Female alongside veterans Ratna Pathak Shah (Golmaal 3), Dimple Kapadia (Dabangg) and Shernaz Patel (Guzaarish).
Nominated for the Best Actor in a negative role award are Naseeruddin Shah (Allah Ke Banday), Sonu Sood (Dabangg), Manoj Bajpayee (Raajneeti), Emraan Hashmi (Once Upon a Time In Mumbai) and Ronit Roy (Udaan).
The International Indian Film Academy awards will take place June 23-25 in Toronto this year. PTI
