Amitabh Bachchan, Indian Film Academy awards (IIFA) Ambassador, arrived in the city as preparations got into full swing for the awards, due to take place in Yorkshire in June.

The four-day star-studded event is expected to attract 28,000 visitors and will be broadcast to a global audience of nearly 500 million in 110 countries.

Yorkshire beat the likes of New York and Barcelona in the fight to host this year's IIFA bash, which will run from June 7 to 10.

Visitors

Experts estimate the event will bring in 28,000 extra visitors to the area, giving its tourist trade a £9.5m boost.

Although the main ceremony will be held at Sheffield's Hallam FM Arena, Leeds will have a key part to play in the rest of the celebrations.

Famous faces from the worlds of sport and showbiz will take to the field at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on June 8 for a charity cricket match. Plans are also being drawn up for exhilarating displays of Indian art, dance, fashion, food and music in the city centre.

The Royal Armouries Museum and Leeds Town Hall will be staging spin-off events, while the world premiere of a Bollywood blockbuster is being held at Castleford's Cineworld cinema.

Mr Bachchan said the film community was looking forward to the awards in July.

He said: "It is an event that we all look forward to, it gives an opportunity for the entire film fraternity to collect in one place over a certain period of time.

"It's something that we can't do even in Bombay when we are all living together, so it is an opportunity to meet each other and of course spend time in a new location every year."

Leeds Lord Mayor Mohammed Iqbal said it was an honour to host such a glittering event. He added: "This event is about building bridges between communities and people and what a perfect event to do that.

"The IIFA awards will put Leeds on the international map and we will be great hosts to the many thousands of people who are set to embark on the city in the summer."

Icon

Joy Kumar, Director of Student-centred Change Management and Leeds Metropolitan University, said it was a privilege to have such an icon to come to the city to launch the Oscars.

She added: "We hope to take the opportunity of hosting this event to promote IIFA and also Leeds as a global brand recognised throughout the world."

ENDS