CELEBRITIES LIGHT UP STAR CITY FOR GURINDER CHADHA’S ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE’ RED CARPET PREMIER
Last night, Birmingham’s Star City played host to the glamorous regional premiere of ‘It’s a Wonderful Afterlife.’
Award winning director, Gurinder Chadha (‘Bend It Like Beckham’) and stars of the film, newcomer Goldy Notay and former ‘Eastenders’ actor Ray Panthaki greeted the excited fans.
Celebrities that added to the glamour of the red carpet included Taz (Stereo Nation) and Punjabi MC who are featured on the film soundtrack. Other celebrities in attendance included, chart topping traditional singer, Jaz Dhami, Asian pop star, Navin Kundra, former Miss England winner, Hammasa Kohistani, radio presenter Bobby Friction and Apna Sangeet singers, Sardara Gill and K.S Bhamrah.
Speaking about the premiere, director Chadha said;
“I am overwhelmed by the response from Birmingham last night at the regional premiere in Star City. The people from the Midlands showed great support and enthusiasm for the release of my new film. It is so nice to know that people for across the UK are recognising the talent from the Asian film industry and helping it reach new heights.”
Actor Ray Panthaki added;
“It has been a great honour to be part of something so fantastic. Working alongside big names such as Shabana Azmi has been a memorable experience and I feel very privileged to have been chosen by Gurinder to take on this role.”
‘It’s a Wonderful Afterlife’ stars the legendary Shabana Azmi, who plays Mrs Sethi, a serial curry killer whose match-making efforts turn sinister when she attempts to find a suitor for her daughter, Roopi (Goldy Notay). A dramatic police hunt for the murderer begins in Southall as Mrs Sethi’s race to find a husband for her daughter continues.
The film also includes an array of stars, including Preeya Kalidas (‘Eastenders’) Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky), BAFTA-nominated Zoë Wanamaker (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) and Mark Addy (The Full Monty). The film also reunites the cast of Bend it Like Beckham including Shaheen Khan (‘Britz’), Ash Varrez (Bhaji on the Beach) and Adlyn Ross (Shifty).’
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE’ is released in cinemas across the UK by Icon Film Distribution on Wednesday 21st April 2010. Certificate 12A.