The dates for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards 2006 were announced months ago. Yet, Shah Rukh Khan has gone on "holiday" to London with his family, seemingly to avoid the function.

Shah Rukh isn't attending the function starting Wednesday. "And that's because he's on holiday with his wife and two kids in London after working non-stop on 'Don' with Farhan Akhtar in Malaysia for three months. This was a holiday he had promised his family months ago, and they had been looking forward to it," a close friend of Karan Johar and Shah Rukh told.

Even Aishwarya Rai won't be able to make it to Dubai, but Abhishek Bachchan will manage to somehow squeeze in a quick trip and come back to Chennai to join the crew of Mani Rathnam's "Guru".

"I have to be there. I am nominated and dad is the ambassador for the event," Abhishek told.

But it's impossible for Aishwarya and the rest of the "Guru" team in Chennai to get away.

However, Johar is sure to attend the IIFA. Says a close friend: "Karan is on the advisory board of the IIFA awards. There was never any question of his not attending the awards. He's left for London on Thursday in connection with the promotion of the music of 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'. From there he proceeds to Dubai for IIFA."

Sanjay Dutt will also have to give the event a miss, as he isn't permitted into Dubai due to some legal problems. However, efforts were made to arrange a special permit for him so that he could accompany his pal and business associate Sanjay Gupta for the launch of forthcoming films of their production company White Feather.

"Unfortunately, Sanju can't accompany us. But we'll all be there and we expect our launch to be spectacular," said Gupta.

Jagmohan Mundhra, who flies down from London for the event in Dubai, will be premiering "Provoked" at IIFA on June 14.