Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan in Leicester, Big B's security fears prompt change of event venue, Bachchan will be in Leicester

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Big B's security fears prompt change of event venue
Indo-Asian News Service

London, July 16 (IANS) Security fears due to the prospect of a large crowd turning up to see Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan in Leicester on July 19 have prompted local authorities to scale down an event at the famous Walkers Stadium.

Bachchan will be in Leicester - a town in the east Midlands with a significant population of Indian origin - to receive an honorary doctor of arts degree from the local De Montfort University during its graduation ceremony on July 19.

After the event, local organisers, including Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, have organised an event in the Walkers Stadium where Bachchan is scheduled to meet his fans. Some of the fans, who win local contests, would be given an opportunity to put questions to Bachchan.

However, due to the mounting interest in the event at the stadium, organisers believe that a large crowd would have security implications. The event has now been moved to the function rooms at the ground, where audience numbers will be restricted to around 1,000. All those tickets have been sold.

According to Vaz, the change was necessary because of security fears. He said: "It was decided that the event should be limited to the tickets sold so far because of security fears.

"The authorities were concerned about the numbers of people who are going to want to welcome him.

"I am sure we will give him a dignified and special welcome. I am delighted that he is coming to Leicester and not at all surprised that the tickets for the event at the Walkers Stadium have been sold out.

"This is an important event for Leicester and I hope that as many people as possible will see him. We are looking at other ways he can meet the demand from the community."

Leicester Mercury, a leading local daily, has been running a competition to give 10 readers the chance to meet Bachchan. Readers have been invited to send in questions they would like to ask the star. Scores of people have entered and the winners will be announced next week.

Leicester has several cinema halls exclusively showing Indian films. Local authorities have set in place policies and structures to invite Indian producers to film and carry out post-production work in Leicester.

Several Indian films have recently been shot in Britain.