Many Bollywood celebs are missing from this year's IIFA awards after the boycott call from the southern stars and film makers, but actor Anupam Kher said that the event will bring peace in Sri Lanka and should be supported.

Anupam who received the Presidential Award on Friday by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, "To heal wounds it is important to keep them open. What happened that time (in Sri Lanka), every one is sad about that. But if an effort is being made to spread peace and happiness through something (like the IIFA awards), then that should be supported. I hope people recognise (that) and not create any controversies."

As per statement issued by the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, the southern film industry would boycott all Bollywood stars who attend IIFA event in the Sri Lankan capital.

The southern film industry has been campaigning against the Sri Lankan administration and the alleged killing of civilian Tamils at the height of the clash between the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers last year.

Anupam is not new to conflict situations.

The Kashmir-born actor fled the valley in 1990s when Muslim militancy peaked. He returned back to his home state many years later to shoot for the 2008 film "Tahaan". He is now filming in the valley for Rahul Dholakia's "Lamhaa", where he is cast as a Muslim leader.

His upcoming flick is "Hitler", where he plays the title role. It's a first for the versatile actor, who has played every kind of role in his two-decade career, but gets his first historical character only now with debutant director Rakesh Ranjan's film.

After commencing his film career with critically acclaimed film "Saransh", he was appreciated for his roles in "Karma" (1986), the wicked uncle Tribhuvan in "ChaalBaaz" (1989), the greedy father Shyamlal in "Tezaab" (1988), the miser Hazari Prasad in "Dil" (1990), the corrupt businessman in "Rang De Basanti"... The list is long.

In a career spanning an enviable range of characters, nuanced and also in-your-face, Anupam also made his mark as the loyal friend in "Lamhe" (1991) and the funny guy in "Shola Aur Shabnam" (1992).

In recent times, the actor has been appreciated in critically acclaimed flicks like "Khosla Ka Ghosla", "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara" and "Morning Walk".

Apart from "Hitler" and "Lamhaa", the actor is looking forward to Pankaj Kapoor's directorial debut "Mausam" that has Shahid Kapoor in the male lead.

Anupam also keeps busy with his acting academy, Actor Prepares, and theatre. (With Inputs from Agencies)