Anil Kapoor at BAFTA awards for third time

Mumbai : It’s a hat trick for Anil Kapoor. The actor is set for his third outing at the prestigious BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards this February.

Kapoor is the only Indian actor, who has been chosen to present the trophies twice-the last time he did so was in 2010, when he gave away the award for Best Costume Design along with Romeo + Juliet (1996) actor Claire Danes.

However, the first time Kapoor actually attended the award function was in 2009 for the multiple award-winning Danny Boyle film, Slumdog Millionaire, which won seven honours that year. Kapoor had shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

The actor, who was last seen in the Tom Cruise-starrer Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, will attend the rehearsals with other star presenters from across the globe on February 12, before heading to the glittering ceremony and red carpet do, later that night.

“Right now, the organisers haven’t revealed which category he will be giving away the award for. Like other presenters, he too will be informed about those details in the afternoon (on February 12),” says a member of Kapoor’s entourage.

When contacted, the actor sounded pleased with the development: “For any actor, it’s an honour to be part of BAFTA for just one year. I’ve had the privilege of being associated with it for three years now and it feels simply great.”

The BAFTA annual award show is popularly looked upon as the British counterpart to the Oscars. Since 2008, it has taken place in the prestigious Royal Opera House.

This year, at the BAFTA gala, Michel Hazanavicius’s silent film, The Artist, has picked up 12 nominations. While Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is nominated in 11 categories, Hugo has nine nominations, My Week With Marilyn has six, and The Help and War Horse have bagged five nominations each.