03 December,2009 10:05 AM IST | | Amul Sharma
Apsara Awards, hosted by of the producer's association Film & Television Producers Guild is returning after a one-year hiatus. Last year's function was cancelled as a mark of respect to the victims of the 26/11 tragedy. So this year, the organisers are planning to hold two award functions. One for last year, and the other for the current year.
The only attraction
The 2008 awards will be held on December 4 and will be a sit-down dinner event. It won't have performances. The only attraction will be an appearance by Sir Ben Kingsley, who is in the city location hunting for his new film and to promote his Hindi film, Teen Patti.u00a0
The 5th Apsara Awards is scheduled to be held later on December 20. The winners are chosen by the Guild jury, thanks to the votes cast by members of the industry. The Guild jury members include filmmakers like Ravi Chopra, Ketan Mehta and Vashu Bhagnani among others.
Manmohan Shetty, President of the Guild says, "The Producers' Guild Awards looks to honour achievers within the fraternity and it is an initiative from the fraternity itself. This stands out as the prime differentiator and makes the Awards special."
The nominees for 2008 categories
Best Actress in a Leading Role
>>Priyanka Chopra (Fashion)
>>Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (Jodhaa Akbar)
>>Genelia D'Souza (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)
>>Bipasha Basu (Race)
>>Soha Ali Khan (Khoya Khoya Chand)
Best Actor in a Leading Role
>>Hrithik Roshan (Jodhaa Akbar)
>>Naseeruddin Shah (A Wednesday!)
>>Darsheel Safary (Taare Zameen Par)
>>Akshay Kumar (Singh is Kinng)
>>Abhishek Bachchan (Dostana)
Best Director
>>Ashutosh Gowariker (Jodhaa Akbar)
>>Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)
>>Neeraj Pandey (A Wednesday!)
>>Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On!!)
>>Abbas Tyrewala (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)
Best Film
>>Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)
>>Ronnie Screwvala, Shital Bhatia, Anjum Rizvi (A Wednesday!)
>>Ronnie Screwvala, Ashutosh Gowariker (Jodhaa Akbar)
>>Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar (Rock On!!)
>>Aamir Khan (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)