Artical

Bollywood comes to Brampton to help Nepal quake victims

TORONTO - The glitz and glamour of Bollywood comes to the GTA Saturday for a good cause.

Some of the genre's biggest stars will light up Brampton's Canadian Convention Centre to raise money for victims of the Nepal earthquake.

TV star Jai Kalra, who now lives in Canada after almost 30 years of experience in Indian media, organized the star-studded event.

"When you reach a certain (professional level) ... you reach there because people have given you their love and support," Kalra said. "At some point you feel there is a need to give back."

Kalra starred in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (Hindi for "You Look so Lovely"), a soap opera that made huge waves both in India and abroad.

During its three-year run from 2011 to 2014, the show was broadcast in more than 83 countries and dubbed in several different languages.

Along with Kalra, Bade Achne Lagte Hain co-stars Sumona Chakravarti, Ram Kapoor, Sakshi Tanwar and Tarana Raja will also appear at the Brampton event, officially dubbed "The Big Reunion."

"Bollywood is a little larger than life," Kalra said in comparing it to Hollywood. "It's something that's a lot more colourful and vibrant. It believes in telling stories on a very big canvas.

"I think if we can clump (western cinema) together with the very different ... way of story telling that Bollywood has, I think we can have some spectacular results," he added.

More than 8,600 people were killed in 7.8-magnitude quake on April 25 and a second 7.3-magnitude quake struck on May 12. Buildings and infrastructure were devastated for nearly one-third of the 28 million people who live in Nepal.

Kalra said helping people is just a natural step to take in his new home.

"It doesn't really feel like I've come to a new country," Kalra said Wednesday. "There's so many people there to help you, be with you and guide you. It's like a home away from home."

Tickets for "The Big Reunion" start at $75 and include dinner, a meet and greet with the stars, and access to the after-party.