DAVID HASSELHOFF - HASSELHOFF WINS INTERNATIONAL STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Actor DAVID HASSELHOFF has won the International Star of the Year gong at Saturday night's (30APR05) Bollywood movie awards, for his work in now-defunct TV shows including KNIGHT RIDER and BAYWATCH.

Hasselhoff was speechless at the US ceremony in Atlantic City, New Jersey, because the award proves his programmes are still the most popular shows on Indian television.

And Hasselhoff - who is currently shooting the big screen version of Knight Rider - hopes his success will persuade director STEVEN SPIELBERG to allow him to reprise his role as MITCH BUCHANNON in the movie adaptation of Baywatch.

He says, "Hopefully now, you'll see me as Mitch on the big screen."

Other winners at the ceremony included YASH CHOPRA , who collected the Best Director gong for VEER-ZAARA, which also won Best Film, while its star SHAH RUKH KHAN won Best Actor.

RANI MUKHERJEE was named Best Actress for her part in HUM TUM and actor SHAMMI KAPOOR was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award.