MUMBAI: Back to the Thai capital after a decade, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards, commencing here Thursday, will not just feature power-packed performances by celebrities including the evergreen Rekha -- performing live on stage after 20 years -- but will seek to raise awareness about women's empowerment, gender equality and plastic pollution.

Ever since its debut in 2000, the IIFA gala has been annually exhibiting the prowess of Bollywood, celebrating the magic of Hindi cinema on foreign shores.

For its 19th edition, the organisers have a glittering show planned at the 2,000-seater Siam Niramit here.

The three-day gala will witness the presence of some of Hindi filmdom's iconic stars and new actors on the red carpet, in the audience and on stage. Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Bobby Deol and Nushrat Bharucha are among those in the performers' line-up, but Rekha's stage act will clearly be a highlight at the awards night.

(PHOTOS: Evergreen Rekha graces Sony TV's Super Dancer)

The show will be hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Karan Johar.