Indiantelevision.com Team

(2 April 2007 2:00 pm)

NEW DELHI: The Ninth Bollywood Awards being held late next month are to be sponsored by the Walmart Stores, which is among the largest employers of Asians in America with around 36,000 working in its various branches in the United States and other countries.

According to Esther Silver-Parker, senior veep for diversity relations in Walmart Stores, the decision to join the Bollywood Group in presenting this year’s awards was because “Bollywood brings an important cultural experience and rich history to the city of New York while contributing to the influence of American cinema.

As a global retailer, it is important that we demonstrate our commitment to diversity. Supporting the Bollywood Awards is a great opportunity for us to further promote the initiatives of the Asian American and Pacific-Islander community.”

New York State Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay who is a music promoter will be one of the presenters at the Ceremony being held on 26 May at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, which will see the American-debut performances of a host of Indian celebrities including Soha Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut.

Soha will give a performance of a medley of musical hits. Kangana bagged Best Debut Awards at the Star Screen and GIFA (Global Indian Film Awards) ceremonies.

Vivek Oberoi and Mona Singh, who will be the master of ceremonies at the Awards ceremony expected to be attended by 15,000 people, are also making their American debut.

Other performers who have confirmed their participation include Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal, Urmila Matondkar, Neha Dhupia, UK's Raghav, Pakistan’s top actress and singer Shahida Mini, Caribbean Singer Ricki Ramdehal and Pakistan’s popular singer Waris Beg. This is in addition to Danny Glover, Phylicia Rashad of The Cosby Show, Anupam Kher, Kirron Kher, Upen Patel, director Raj Kumar Hirani, Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN, and Anuj Saxena.