Guwahati: Following the successful hosting of 65th Filmfare Awards in Guwahati on Saturday evening, Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah on Monday clarified that public fund was not utilised for the event.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Baruah said that neither public money nor funds sanctioned for developmental schemes were utilised for the cinematic extravaganza.
He said that The TImes Group spent Rs 35 crore for the celebrities’ accommodation, communication and all other expenses. He added that this money has been spent on Assam.
The state department spent Rs 23 crore for the development of the tourism industry.
The awards show was marked by the attendance of several topnotch Bollywood celebrities including Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aaryan, Vicky Kaushal, Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit, Govinda and Alia Bhatt, among others. As many as 80 tinsel town celebs were present for the glamorous affair.
Kaushal and Johar hosted the event at Sarusajai Stadium. Gully Boy raked 13 awards, the highest for a single film in Filmfare’s history.
Meanwhile, Baruah informed that tickets worth Rs 4 crore were sold for the show, 50% of which has been provided to the Chief Minister’s Relief fund.
The ATDC chairman thanked the state government for its support and also thanked local superstar Zubeen Garg for his support for the event, despite Assamese entertainment industry’s strong protest against the award show.
