(L-r): Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt and A.R. Rahman are amongst the lead performers who will be performing at this year’s IIFA Awards in New York, in July. (STR & Ethan Miller/AFP/Getty Images)

@Siliconeer #Siliconeer #Bollywood #IIFA Awards #2017IIFAAwardsNewYork #SalmanKhan #BeingHuman #AliaBhatt  #ARRahman @2017IIFANewYork @SalmanKhan @BeingHuman @AliaBhatt  @ARRahman – Salman Khan, music maestro A.R. Rahman and Alia Bhatt will be performing at the upcoming International Indian Film Academy awards in New York.

The 18th edition of IIFA will be a melange of glitz, glamor and star power with performances from Bollywood actors such as Salman, Alia, Katrina Kaif, Shahid Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon, among others.

Oscar-winning music maestro Rahman, too, will be performing at the July 14-15 event to be held at the iconic MetLife Stadium.

Commenting on the occasion, Salman says, “It always feels great to be a part of the IIFA movement and I look forward to the IIFA Festival in New York.”

The organizers will also be celebrating 25 years of Rahman in the film industry at the event.

Alia has been in the film industry for five years, but has never been part of the awards and so she is all the more excited about her first performance.

“I am very excited to be a part of IIFA 2017. It (IIFA) is all about togetherness and the celebration of the Indian cinema globally and I eagerly look forward to this celebration,” adds the 24-year-old actress.

Katrina thinks the IIFA awards are a great opportunity to reach out to her fans worldwide.

Shahid, who hosted the awards ceremony last year, is charged up about his performance this time.

“I had a great time last year hosting the show. This time around I will be performing at IIFA. I am hoping to give the audiences a power-packed performance.”

“Raabta” film co-stars Sushant and Kriti, too, are elated about the ceremony. “I doubt I will be performing on my songs, because the films I have done, don’t really have peppy numbers,” says Sushant.

Kriti is also looking forward to her very first performance at the IIFA and her first visit to the city.

Andre Timmins, director, Wizcraft International, the producers and creator of IIFA, says, “We are pleased to announce this spectacular line up of stars and performers for the 2017 IIFA Festival New York.”

The two-day entertainment extravaganza will feature IIFA Weekend Press Conference and IIFA Rocks Green Carpet, IIFA Rocks, followed the next day by the IIFA Awards Green Carpet and main award ceremony.