Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De! India, a sports film that plays themes of religion and class, won nine honours at the ninth IIFA awards here with Khan receiving the best actor award for his inspiring role as a hockey coach in the film.

Khan, who gave a miss to last night's star-studded ceremony here, virtually ruled the function with his homeproduction Om Shanti Om winning five awards.

Film producer Yash Chopra collected the awards on his behalf.

Chak De which was adjudged the best film of 2007, is about a Muslim captain who leaves the game after being wrongly accused of throwing a match against Pakistan in World Cup. He returns after seven years as coach of the Indian women's hockey team, leading them to a World Cup victory.

Similarly, the film's Director Shimit Amin received the best director's award. Jaideep Sahani received the award for best story for the film.

Jaideep Sahani shared the screenplay award for the film with Anurag Basu Life in a Metro. Om Shanti Om, Khan's home production bagged awards for art direction, costumes, special effects and make up. Javed Akhtar also won the best lyricist award for the song Main Agar Kahoon.

The awards ceremony was held at the Siam Niramit complex in the heart of Bangkok city. Ritesh Deshmukh and Boman Irani were the hosts of the awards ceremony.

 The nearly three-hour extravanganza was marked by scintillating performances from Govinda, Katrina, Kareena, stars of films like Acid Factory, Mission Istanbul, De Taal and Love story 2050.

The highlight was the finale by Akshay Kumar who made a dashing entry on stage by sliding down a cable from a corner of the auditorium.

He performed a number from his forthcoming film Singh is King. Other films who were adjudged winners in different categories were Shootout at Lokhandwala (action), Jab we met (dialogue).