MOROCCO: Indian Cinema proves a huge hit in Morocco / Thousands gather to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh Khan in Marrakech

Record ID: 841463

  • Title: MOROCCO: Indian Cinema proves a huge hit in Morocco / Thousands gather to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh Khan in Marrakech
  • Date: 3rd December 2012
  • Summary: MARRAKECH, MOROCCO (DECEMBER 1, 2012) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ***AUDIO AS INCOMING** THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ASSEMBLE IN DJEMMA EL FNA SQUARE A FAN HOLDING A 'I LOVE KING' SIGN SHAH RUKH KHAN ARRIVES ON STAGE AND BOWS TO THE AUDIENCE FANS CHEER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHAH RUKH KHAN, SAYING: "I really want to bow my head down to everyone here in Marrakech for
  • Embargoed: 18th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Morocco
  • City:
  • Country: Morocco
  • Topics:
  • Reuters ID: LVA32X8VB5UYQXU56FPBP8ZQ5D74
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  • Story Text: Despite not having a large Indian Diaspora, thousands of Moroccan fans gathered in the Djemaa El Fna Square outside the world famous souk in Marrakech to catch a glimpse of the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, solidifying Indian Cinema's popularity in the region.
    Khan was in Morocco for the Marrakech film festival and he turned out to present a free open air screening of his film "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" as part of a homage to Hindi Cinema.
    Fans screamed and chanted for the 47-year-old actor, who paid reverence to the crowd by bowing to them on stage, and later showboating on a small wooden barrier in front of photographers.
    The Indian delegates at the festival for the homage to Hindi Cinema, which included the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Malaika Arora Khan, have all been surprised at the rise in popularity of their films in the region.
    For Shah Rukh Khan, he is also baffled by the attention he receives. He told Reuters Television that morning "When all this happens it surprises me more than an outsider like you who is watching it. I'm like 'Why are they loving me so much?' I have no idea. I think maybe the fact I have no idea why they love me is why they keep loving me."
    The Marrakech Film Festival is now in its 12th edition and the Homage to Hindi Cinema red carpet was shared by other international names including Catherine Deneuve, Gemma Arterton and Monica Bellucci.
    The red carpet occurred just before the open air screening but the scenes of adulation were the same there for the Indian stars as they were in the Djemaa El Fna Square.
    When Reuters Television caught up with Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan the next day, he tried to sum up why there appeared to be this rise in popularity of Indian cinema in North Africa.
    "I would like to believe that it is the content of our films which is getting attractive for them. Most of our films deal with human emotions and human emotions are a very integral part of any human's life and to see it enacted on screen and to see its values come across and to be presented in a manner in the way that we do with the song and music and dance must be making it worthwhile for them to watch a film."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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