Dabbang bags top honours at Apsara Awards

Salman Khan starrer Dabangg, the highest grosser in 2010, stole the show by sweeping eight awards at this year's Apsara Awards, including the best film, best actor and best music trophies.

Salman earned his first set of Best Actor awards in an over two-decade career at the Chevrolet Apsara Awards 2011 in Mumbai, his second in a week after bagging the same honour at the Star Screen Awards last week.

Though the 45-year-old actor was nominated in the Best Actor category for several films like Karan Arjun, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Tere Naam, the only award he has won is the Best Actor in a Supporting role for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

The film's female lead Sonakshi Sinha took home the Best Debut - Female trophy. Dabangg also won the best dialogue award, the best performance in negative role went to Sonu Sood and singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan won the best male singer trophy for the song Tere Mast Mast Do Nain.

"Its absolutely wonderful to be walking home with so many awards. Above all, I am very happy for Salman. After about 20 years in the industry this is the first movie that is brining him the awards for best actor," Dabbang producer Arbaaz Khan said.

The best actress award was shared by Vidya Balan for Ishqiya and Anushka Sharma for her role in Band Baaja Baraat.

Karan Johar won the best director award for My Name is Khan. Anusha Rizvi took home the best story award for Peepli Live, while the best lyrics tropy went to Gulzar for the song Dil to bachcha hai ji from Ishqiya.

Farah Khan won the best choreography award for the hit number 'Sheila ki jawani' from her directorial Tees Maar Khan at last night's star-studded ceremony.

Newcomer Ranveer Singh won the best debut - male trophy for Band Bajaa Baraat, while Maneesh Sharma took home the best debut - director award for the same film.

Mamta Sharma and Sunidhi Chauhan shared the best female singer award for their respective item songs 'Munni badnam' and 'Sheila ki jawani'.

Arjun Rampal's role in Raajneeti' got him the best actor in a supporting role-male award, while Prachi Desai won the trophy in the female category for her turn in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actress Vidya Balan were handed special honours for their roles in Paa, so was Rajkumar Hirani for directing 3 Idiots.

Best performance in a comic role went to Paresh Rawal for Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?

Veteran actor Dharmendra, who recently completed his golden jubilee in Bollywood, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai were presented with the President Honour, a specially created category of awards, for their performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish.

"I would like to thank Bhansali for giving me good movies like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas which have brought me to where I am," Rai said accepting the award.

Spirits were high as the audience cheered at Priyanka Chopra's performance on a medley of songs featuring Madhuri Dikshit, while Govinda's tribute to Dharmendra was also well received. Actor Shahrukh Khan also performed at the function.

However, the highlight of the evening was Katrina's performing to her hit number 'Sheila Ki Jawaani.