Madrid welcomes Indian stars with Bollywood flash mob
The stars of the Indian film industry descended on Madrid this weekend to promote the upcoming Bollywood Oscars.
The biggest film industry in the world is bringing its version of the Oscars to Madrid and what better way to promote it than through a huge group dance number?
Three of Bollywood’s most famous actors: Sonakshi Sinha, Anil Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan led a flash mob – or group dance – on Madrid’s Paseo del Prado on Sunday, featuring 45 professional dancers and a huge crowd of fans.
Hrithik Roshan (C), Sonakshi Sinha (R) and Anil Kapoor. Photo: Javier Soriano AFP
"The dancers encouraged the public to join in with the choreography, explaining the dance steps of the Indian dancers," Madrid's City Hall explained in a statement.
The central Madrid boulevard was closed to cars and played host to thousands of Bollywood fans, who were screaming and holding up home-made posters.
Security even had to get involved to protect the Bollywood stars from their adoring fans.
It was the first promotional event for the Bollywood Oscars - organized by India’s International Academy of Film (IIFA) in collaboration with Madrid’s City Hall.
It is estimated that the event will be watched by around 800 million people on television and attract 15,000 tourists to the Spanish capital, bringing investment of €15 million.
Over 100 Bollywood stars are expected to attend the ceremony, on June 25th, which will be accompanied by a series of events in the city, such as a global business forum and an electronic music festival.
"It is going to be real, real madness," Kapoor, who starred in "Slumdog Millionaire", told a news conference in Madrid.
"There is a tremendous amount of similarity between the Spanish people and Indian people. We believe in enjoying life, we believe in family values, we love to dance."
Over the past few years the Bollywood Oscars have taken place in various foreign locations, to boost the profile of the Indian film industry abroad.
In 2011, the ceremony was held in Toronto, Canada, while in 2014 it was held in Tampa, USA.
Last year's ceremony was held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Bollywood is the world's most prolific film industry, making on average over 1,000 films a year compared to Hollywood's 500.
Spain has become an increasingly popular destination for shooting Bollywood films in recent years, as well as several Hollywood blockbusters.
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The biggest film industry in the world is bringing its version of the Oscars to Madrid and what better way to promote it than through a huge group dance number?
Three of Bollywood’s most famous actors: Sonakshi Sinha, Anil Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan led a flash mob – or group dance – on Madrid’s Paseo del Prado on Sunday, featuring 45 professional dancers and a huge crowd of fans.
Hrithik Roshan (C), Sonakshi Sinha (R) and Anil Kapoor. Photo: Javier Soriano AFP
"The dancers encouraged the public to join in with the choreography, explaining the dance steps of the Indian dancers," Madrid's City Hall explained in a statement.
The central Madrid boulevard was closed to cars and played host to thousands of Bollywood fans, who were screaming and holding up home-made posters.
Security even had to get involved to protect the Bollywood stars from their adoring fans.
It was the first promotional event for the Bollywood Oscars - organized by India’s International Academy of Film (IIFA) in collaboration with Madrid’s City Hall.
It is estimated that the event will be watched by around 800 million people on television and attract 15,000 tourists to the Spanish capital, bringing investment of €15 million.
Over 100 Bollywood stars are expected to attend the ceremony, on June 25th, which will be accompanied by a series of events in the city, such as a global business forum and an electronic music festival.
"It is going to be real, real madness," Kapoor, who starred in "Slumdog Millionaire", told a news conference in Madrid.
"There is a tremendous amount of similarity between the Spanish people and Indian people. We believe in enjoying life, we believe in family values, we love to dance."
Over the past few years the Bollywood Oscars have taken place in various foreign locations, to boost the profile of the Indian film industry abroad.
In 2011, the ceremony was held in Toronto, Canada, while in 2014 it was held in Tampa, USA.
Last year's ceremony was held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Bollywood is the world's most prolific film industry, making on average over 1,000 films a year compared to Hollywood's 500.
Spain has become an increasingly popular destination for shooting Bollywood films in recent years, as well as several Hollywood blockbusters.
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