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Indo-Pak standoff spikes Bollywood show in UK

Shyam Bhatia in London

Tensions between India and Pakistan have resulted in the cancellation of a live Bollywood spectacular planned for the UK later this month, starring some of the biggest names in the Indian film industry.

Promoters of From India With Love, which was due to feature appearances on stage in London and Manchester by Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Preity Zinta, say all tickets for the shows in Manchester on June 29 and London on June 30 will be refunded.

The promoters say the withdrawal of virtually all UK embassy staff from India means there is no guarantee that performers will get their visas in time to travel to the shows.

From India With Love had earlier been billed as the biggest event of its kind ever staged in the UK, with three-hour performances planned at The Old Trafford stadium in Manchester and at Hyde Park in London.

It followed an Indian summer of events with a Bollywood flavour that has so far included the screening of Lagaan and Monsoon Wedding, a three-week promotion at London's Selfridges department store and the opening last week of Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End musical Bombay Dreams.

A spokeswoman for From India with Love promoters told rediff.com: "We regrettably announce the postponement of the shows that were scheduled to take place at Manchester and London. This is due to circumstances outside the control of the promoters.

"The escalating tension and the resulting withdrawal from India of virtually all UK embassy staff means that the promoters no longer have the assurance that the 100 plus performers will receive visas in time to travel to the UK for the shows.

"Furthermore, the British government is strongly advising against any travel to the Indian sub-continent, which has prevented the promoters from sending their production team to India to participate in vital rehearsals of the shows. Due to the current uncertainty that the standoff has caused there is increasing doubt surrounding the feasibility of staging the shows at this time and insuring them.

"The promoters have had to take this difficult decision now rather than risk a last minute postponement and the disappointment that would cause to the tens of thousands of fans expected to attend the shows.

"While it is the promoter's intention to reschedule the shows, in light of the uncertainty and the limited availability of these venues to stage events of this scale, it has been decided that all tickets should be refunded now from the point of purchase."

Meanwhile, a rival show, Heart-throbs, currently touring the US is to go ahead with its planned UK performances.

A spokesman for Zee TV, one of the co-sponsors of Heart-throbs, which stars Hrithik Roshan, the Kapoor sisters, Karisma and Kareena, Arjun Rampal and Aftab Shivdasani, said no changes were planned for the performances scheduled between June 21 and 23 in London and Birmingham.

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