The next edition of the IIFA Awards is set to begin with an emotional moment. IIFA co-founder Andre Timmins has revealed that Janhvi Kapoor will pay tribute to her late mother, legendary actress Sridevi, on the grand stage of IIFA 2027, a performance that is already being billed as one of the most personal highlights of the awards weekend.
Speaking to ANI, Timmins said the tribute is firmly on the cards for the 27th edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards, which takes place at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on January 22 and 23, 2027. It will mark the fourth time the awards have been hosted in the emirate, and the organisers are clearly going all out to make the homecoming special.
“Janhvi will pay tribute to her mother, Sridevi, who’s a brilliant artist that we had on this planet. I think that’s the only tribute right now, and she’s excited about it and more than her, her father, Boney, is more excited about it, so I think it’ll be exciting,” Timmins said.
Why this tribute matters
For Janhvi, who was only beginning her acting career when Sridevi passed away on February 24, 2018, the performance carries a weight few award-show acts ever do. She has often spoken about her mother’s towering influence, from the way Sridevi lit up the screen in films like Chandni, Lamhe, English Vinglish and Mom, to the quiet discipline she brought to the craft. This will be the first time Janhvi honours her mother through a dedicated stage performance at such a scale.
Janhvi herself has also spoken about the experience of returning to the IIFA stage, recalling her first performance at the ceremony in Abu Dhabi and the electricity of performing before an international audience. Those early memories, she said, made the event special to her long before this year’s tribute was ever discussed.
A star-studded lineup for IIFA 2027
The tribute will sit inside a packed two-day programme. According to Timmins, the performance roster for IIFA 2027 includes Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Rashmika, while Nora is set to open the show with a routine designed to bring in local flavour alongside her biggest global hits.
Hosting duties are getting a refresh too. Varun Dhawan will co-host the awards for the first time alongside Ananya Panday, with Karan Johar and Manish Paul joining them. Timmins said the theme this year will be “very tropical, very fun, very celebratory and very interactive,” promising viewers a cinematic journey with plenty of surprises.
The IIFA Digital Awards will also be part of the Abu Dhabi weekend, with Pankaj Tripathi hosting for the first time. The Mirzapur actor is expected to bring his trademark wit to the digital honours, sharing the stage with Ali Fazal and Abhishek.
What to expect at the Abu Dhabi weekend
The main IIFA Awards night is set for January 23, with the wider IIFA Weekend running across January 22 and 23. Beyond the awards and performances, the weekend will include fan experiences and entertainment events, continuing the partnership between IIFA, the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, and Miral.
- The 27th IIFA Awards will be held at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
- Dates: January 22 and 23, 2027, with the main awards on January 23
- Janhvi Kapoor will perform a dedicated tribute to Sridevi, the only tribute currently announced
- Varun Dhawan and Ananya Panday debut as hosts; Karan Johar and Manish Paul join them
- Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Rashmika among performers; Nora opens the show
- Pankaj Tripathi hosts the IIFA Digital Awards for the first time
The bigger picture
Awards shows have always traded on spectacle, but tributes like this are remembered longer. Sridevi remains one of the rare performers whose work cut across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema, and a daughter’s tribute on an international stage is the kind of moment that travels far beyond the arena. If Timmins’ excitement is anything to go by, the Abu Dhabi crowd is in for something genuinely special.
FAQs
Q: Who will pay tribute to Sridevi at IIFA 2027?
Janhvi Kapoor will pay tribute to her late mother, actress Sridevi, at the 27th IIFA Awards, according to IIFA co-founder Andre Timmins.
Q: When and where is IIFA 2027?
IIFA 2027 takes place at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on January 22 and 23, 2027. The main awards night is on January 23.
Q: Who is hosting IIFA 2027?
Varun Dhawan and Ananya Panday will debut as co-hosts, joined by Karan Johar and Manish Paul. Pankaj Tripathi will host the IIFA Digital Awards for the first time.
Q: Which performers are confirmed for IIFA 2027?
Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Rashmika and Janhvi Kapoor are confirmed performers, with Nora set to open the show.
Q: Is this the first time IIFA is being held in Abu Dhabi?
No. IIFA 2027 marks the fourth time the awards are being hosted in Abu Dhabi.
IIFA 2027 is still months away, but the stage is already set. More announcements on the programme are expected in the coming weeks, and fans will be watching closely to see how Janhvi honours the legend her mother was.
