Bollywood glamour came to Bradford yesterday when megastar Amitabh Bachchan helped launch one of the movie world's biggest events.

The actor was backing Bollywood's answer to the Oscars, which Bradford will share with other Yorkshire cities next year.

The eighth annual International Indian Film Academy Awards will celebrate the best of Indian film and the stars who make Bollywood an international sensation.

Some of the biggest stars of Indian film, along with top international stars, will be flocking to Yorkshire next June.

Previous guests of the IIFA Weekend have included Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan and Jean Claude Van Damme.

Bradford, alongside York, Hull, Leeds and Sheffield, is expected to enjoy a global audience of nearly 500 million viewers for the awards.

The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television gave Mr Bachchan the red-carpet treatment when he arrived for the official announcement.

Scores of Bollywood fans turned out to welcome their hero, whose four- decade movie career led to voters in a BBC poll naming him the superstar of the millennium in 1999, ahead of Sir Laurence Olivier and Cary Grant.

Bradford and Yorkshire will join Singapore, South Africa and Dubai in hosting the IIFA Weekend.

Mr Bachchan was joined by Yorkshire Tourist Board chairman Judith Donovan and Terry Hodgkinson, chairman of development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Miss Donovan said IIFA would be a massive boost for the region, expected to bring 17,000 visitors and generate £10 million of spending.

She said: "Our bid was branded Yorkshire - love at first sight' and that's what we intend, not only with these 17,000 people but those who will see Yorkshire for the first time on television screens worldwide and create a life-long love affair with Yorkshire."

The star-studded, red-carpet award ceremony will take place in Sheffield's Hallam Arena on Saturday, June 9.

Bradford and the rest of the county will be in the spotlight through film, business, tourism and charity events.

Mr Hodgkinson said the awards offered a massive opportunity for Yorkshire business.

He said: "The Indian economy is set to grow by ten per cent in the next 12 months alone and companies are looking to make investments overseas, especially in the UK. Hosting the awards will act as a catalyst to access the Indian market, forging stronger business and cultural links between our region and India."

Mr Bachchan said he was looking forward to getting to grips with all Bradford and Yorkshire had to offer.

He said: "I was here once, for the Bite the Mango film festival. When I'm here next I will take a good look at the area and the region.

"I saw some films recently by the tourism board and they were absolutely amazing."

And he revealed that work on a film with a Yorkshire backdrop was on the cards.

One Bradford business has already made its mark on the awards, with Mumtaz Food Industries providing the catering for the launch event.

e-mail: jonathan.walton@bradford.newsquest.co.uk