Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor has jetted into the UK to close Bradford's Bite The Mango film festival in style.
The 43-year-old actor, known in Bollywood as Mr India, will meet and greet fans at tonight's closing gala and discuss his two-decade movie career in front of a packed Pictureville cinema.
The star, regarded as Bolly-wood's answer to Harrison Ford, said he was delighted to be invited to Bite The Mango and could not wait to meet some of his British fans.
Speaking from his chauffeur driven limousine Anil, said: "I'm really looking forward to coming to the festival, I'm honoured that they invited me. I've never been to Bradford before so I'm looking forward to meeting some of the fans.
"I've always had a very warm reception here in the UK, I've been coming here for 20 years since nobody had ever heard of me and I've always been made welcome. In many ways I get a bigger reaction here than I do at home."
Anil has starred in nearly 100 movies since he first sprang to Bollywood's attention in his 1982 breakthrough film Shakti. Bite The Mango screened his latest Bollywood blockbuster Armaan (translated as Desire) on Saturday as a taster for tonight's closing gala.
The event brings to a close seven days of premieres and previews at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television from 16 countries around the world.
Festival director Irfan Ajeeb, said: "So far the festival's been a great success. The fact that someone of Anil Kapoor's status has agreed to attend Bite The Mango will consolidate the festival's reputation in South Asia for attracting the biggest stars. His decision to come is not only great news for the festival but for Bradford too."
But Mr Ajeeb added that the best is yet to come and said organisers are already planning to make next year's tenth anniversary festival something special.
For details of tonight's event visit the festival website at www.bitethemango.org.uk or call the box office on (0870) 7010 200.
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