Birmingham is home to a big South Asian diaspora which has lead to the popularity of cinema from the region, including Bollywood movies.
While Bollywood is not the only film industry in India which has gained global acclaim, it still remains one of the popular ones. Bollywood is the Hindi-speaking film industry centered in the western city of Mumbai with other languages spoken in the country having their own industries. Bollywood alone is valued around £2 billion.
Many Indian stars have visited Birmingham - which has its own Indian Film Festival - over the years. But, it’s not just the festival that is the attraction - cricket matches and music have also enticed these icons fly to more than 4,500 miles from Mumbai to Birmingham.
Actors, directors, and music composers - including the Oscar winning A.R. Rahman - have visited Birmingham to share their talents or just for tourism.
Here are ten Indian film and music stars who have visited Birmingham over the years:
1. Actor Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar - who was once known as Action Kumar thanks to his action star status - is one of the most popular movie stars in Bollywood. His net worth is around £300m and he continues to make multiple movies a year. He visited Edgbaston for a cricket match in 2013. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
2. Music composer A.R. Rahman
Oscar winner A.R. Rahman, who composed music for Slumdog Millionaire, is pictured here during a rehearsal with The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in March 2004. He conducted two the orchestra in two concert appearances in the UK. He has made music for some of the biggest Bollywood movies including Lagaan, Dil Se, and a lot more. (Photo - ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
3. Actress Taapsee Pannu
Actress Taapsee Pannu was in Birmingham for the Indian Film Festival in the city in 2022. She is one of the popular actresses in Bollywood and doesn’t shy away from doing some alternative films. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
4. Actor Hrithik Roshan
Actor Hrithik Roshan visited Edgbaston for a cricket match in 2004. He gained instant fame with his debut movie in 2000 and has acted in many big budget movies since, including playing a super hero in Krrish. (Photo - ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)