The growing Bollywood phenomenon in the UK is set to reach new heights this Summer with the news that five of its most legendary superstar performers are to appear alongside each other for the first time ever in two massive outdoor extravaganzas, called ‘FROM INDIA WITH LOVE’ at Manchester’s Old Trafford Football Stadium, home of Manchester United Football Club on Saturday June 29th and London’s Hyde Park on Sunday June 30th.
Amitabh
Bachchan,
and
Shah
Rukh
Khan
two of Indian cinema’s biggest
idols will star alongside, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai and
Preity Zinta, who between them have starred in over 200 of Bollywood’s
biggest blockbusters. Together they will bring the spectacle, glamour and
romance of Indian films to the UK on an unprecedented scale in what will
be the biggest event of its kind ever to be staged in the world.
The ‘From India with Love’ shows will be seen by 115,000 people with the Hyde Park show raising a minimum of £250,000 for the country’s leading youth charity,The Prince’s Trust. In a world where “The actors are Gods and the fans take the business of adoration very seriously”, this line-up is the equivalent of putting the cast of Ocean’s Eleven on the same stage and, like their Hollywood counterparts in Los Angeles, these megastars would bring the city of Mumbai to a standstill if they were ever to appear together there. Known as the Sean Connery, Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan of the Asian film world, they represent the collective A-list of Bollywood talent. In some parts of India they even construct temples in their honour, where film dialogues are recited as prayers!
The show will be a feast of dance,
music and costumes on a grand scale – the greatest showcase of Bollywood
pageantry ever staged as a live event. The stars will perform alongside
scores of dancers, musicians and extras in what will be a three-hour
journey into the romantic world of Indian cinema. The show will also bring
together the full cricket team led by Aamir Khan from the Oscar nominated
“Lagaan”, who will perform the film’s theme song live together. Adored by
millions across the world, Bollywood has
long
since established itself as a premiere genre in its own right and is
enjoying a rate of growth unparalleled by any other film industry in the
world today. Films such as the recently Oscar nominated “Lagaan” and
hugely successful “Kabhi
Khushi Kabhie Gham” (which grossed more per cinema release in the UK than Harry Potter) have entered the mainstream movie charts and sold thousands on video and DVD. India’s movie exports
have increased throughout the
nineties and are expected to reach the $250 million mark during the course
of this year. The latest British-Asian movie “Bend It Like Beckham” is
expected to gross in the region of
£20 million in the UK and “Mohabbatein”
starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai has already
grossed over £1.2 million after barely six months in the UK, setting new
box office records for a Bollywood film. Furthermore Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
“Bombay Dreams” is now being feted as the West End’s must-see musical this
summer and May sees Selfridges recreating the Bollywood lifestyle with a
special Fashion, Food, Music and Dancing season. The British Film
Institute continues the celebration of Indian cinema, when it launches its
eight month long “ImagineAsia” programme
Colin
Davie, Larger than life
CEO of Planet 7 Entertainment Ltd commented: “Ever since I began working
in India some 12 years ago and taking International artists such as Shaggy
and Michael Jackson to perform shows there, it has always been my ambition
to give Asian audiences in the UK and around the world, events produced to
the highest possible standard. The coming together of Times of India,
Mr Davie also highlighted that events like these not only raise enourmous amount of money for Charities but also help bring communities together and create much needed goodwill.
Cineyug and my company with the
world’s greatest event company, Clear Channel Entertainment, marks the
beginning of an exciting new chapter in the way India’s finest stars will
be able to be seen on stage. I welcome this marvellous opportunity of
great companies working together to give India’s leading stars the same
opportunity afforded to major International stars.”
Amitabh Bachchan said: “It is a wonderful honour for the stars of Indian Cinema to perform in two of the most prestigious venues in the world. I am personally very proud that we are able to have Prince Charles’ charity, The Prince’s Trust, as a benefactor of our event in Hyde Park.”
Shahrukh Khan continued: “I’m really looking forward to bringing Indian Cinema to the British masses. It’s going to be a great feeling seeing everybody enjoying the music and romance of Indian Cinema.”
Aamir Khan
said: “It is going to be a
fantastic occasion and a great opportunity to bring the very best of
Indian Cinema to such a wide audience. I truly think that there is a new
tide turning in our film industry and I’m
delighted that we’re finally attracting the kind of recognition that we
deserve.”
Aishwarya Rai
commented: “I’ve heard that it’s
going to be an Indian Summer in
England this year. You have the food and the culture here already and we are going to bring the magic of our cinema. We’re all going to have the most fantastic time – and that’s a guarantee!”
Preity Zinta added: “I think it’s wonderful how popular our work is in this country. All of us really appreciate and love our fans here. You guys are the best and we are really looking forward to putting on the best show that anyone has ever seen.”
Graham Pullen, Managing Director of CCE Events said today: “Clear Channel Entertainment is thrilled to partner Planet 7 and The Times of India in bringing two groundbreaking shows to Hyde Park and Old Trafford Football Stadium. With The Times of India and Cineyug Entertainment we are creating two spectacular events that must be the high point of a truly Indian Summer.”
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