Toronto hosts world premiere of big-budget movie as excited fans mob Indian film stars
When Bollywood's hottest couple, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, stepped out of their limo on Yonge St. and onto the red carpet in front of the Elgin Theatre last night, the fans sent up a roar so loud it could almost have been heard in India. In fact, it probably was -- given the crush of T
V media who flew in from India to record the event, the first world premiere of a Bollywood film in Toronto. "We love you!" screamed the crowd, estimated by police at about 1,000 -- many of whom had staked out spots for hours across from the theatre. The 6-foot-tall Bachchan, dressed in a black Ne
hru jacket, declared the premiere of Guru "a very proud moment for the Indian film industry." Rai, in a champagne-coloured silk pajama kurta, appeared overwhelmed. "I can't thank them enough for their love, good wishes and support," she said of the fans. Others on the red carpet included the film'
s director, Mani Ratnam, composer A. R. Rahman and Mayor David Miller. "Why Toronto?" Miller responded to questions from reporters. "We've got a huge South Asian population, we're an international city, so where else would you have a Bollywood premiere outside of India?" Asked to name his favouri
te Bollywood flick, Miller replied, "I'll tell you after the film. I don't want to offend any of the stars." It was clearly Bachchan and Rai the fans were standing in the cold to see. "They're huge," Indian television correspondent Abhishek Srivastava said. "In India, they have the star power of
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. "Anywhere they appear in public, it's news." Some fans were miffed about the hefty ticket prices -- ranging from $100 to $500 -- for the premiere, which did not sell out. "If I got to sit next to Aishwarya, I'd pay $100. Tomorrow it's showing for $10 at the cineplex
, so I'll see it then, " said Naj Khan, 25, a Toronto business analyst who staked out a spot across the street, along with a gang of friends to catch a glimpse of Rai. Other fans didn't mind shelling out $100 for a chance to be a part of Toronto and Bollywood history. "It's the first time a Boll
ywood premiere has happened in Toronto, so we wanted to be part of the excitement," said Rosham Punja, 35, a Toronto nurse. "It's so amazing to be able to experience this and showcase the culture and Toronto across the world." "We love it. We feel like we're in Bombay ... with all of this hungama (
hullabaloo)," said Khushwinder Verma, 33, a Toronto systems analyst. Some joked about the star couple's compatibility. "She's a gorgeous, excellent actor and I think they make a great couple," said Shahid Abdool, 34, a buyer from Maple. "No, no, I think Abhishek deserves much better," interjected
a laughing Mumtaz Musaji, 30, another nurse. "She (Rai) is pretty but she's overrrated." The big-budget Guru is inspired by the rags-to-riches story of Dhirubhai Ambani, one of India's leading industrialists. Movie executive Bobby Bedi says he chose Toronto for the city's cosmopolitan ambience,
large South Asian movie-loving population and the momentum led by blockbuster Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. Guru opens in 12 theatres across Canada tomorrow. Rai, 33, is a former beauty queen and among the few Bollywood actors to have achieved internat
ional stardom, through crossover films like Bride and Prejudice. Bachchan, 30, is the son of Bollywood royalty, actors Amitab and Jaya Bachchan. Their romance sparked a media frenzy in November, when Rai was said to have accompanied the Bachchan clan to the holy city of Varanasi to offer prayers to
overcome a problem in her horoscope. Hindus often consult astrologers before marrying. For weeks, the Indian media have reported that the lovebirds will wed in a lavish ceremony in Mumbai on Feb. 19. But they have yet to publicly announce their engagement -- something fans speculated might happen
in Toronto.

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