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19 March 2024

Salman Khan vs Zac Efron: Bollywood vs Hollywood for top draw in UAE?

Bollywood actor Salman Khan (L) and Hollywood star Zac Efron (R). (AFP/GETTY)

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By Bindu Suresh Rai

It’s cloudy, with a chance of a celebrity outpouring as the UAE becomes top draw for global stars that are jetting in for a fly-by visit.

In the next few months, the emirates will turn into a fictitious battleground, with both Hollywood and Bollywood A-listers vying for attention and the big bucks for upcoming concerts and films that will pepper the UAE landscape with starry faces, with Zac Efron, Liam Hemsworth, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Dwayne Johnson being the latest editions.

The action kicks off next month, Bollywood hunk Salman Khan will kick off the celebrity brigade with a star-studded stage performance to commemorate UAE National Day on December 2.

Organised by Creative Hub Events, this top-billed event will also headline Priyanka Chopra with Khan himself, with actress Zarine Khan also set to groove on stage.

Meanwhile, Pakistani maestro Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, along with Sophie Choudary are also slated to perform at the Dubai Festival City event.

Following this, Usher and Katy Perry are set to perform at the closing ceremony of the World Parachuting Championships in Meydan on December 8, with Rihanna’s on again, off again boyfriend Chris Brown doing the honours on December 11.

Rumour mills are churning that Akshay Kumar and Asin will jet down in December for “Khiladi 786” once again after shooting a song here earlier this month, possibly for the Dubai International Film Festival.

The film fest, which runs from December 9-16 has already confirmed that Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Colin Firth have been pencilled in for the festival.

Meanwhile, Syed Shuja of Dream Advertising and Ministry of Events told Emirates 24|7 earlier that Preity Zinta was scheduled to visit to promote “Ishkq in Paris”, but with the film’s delayed release, a date is yet to be set.

He added: “We have also teamed up with the producers of “Race 2” for a December promotional tour for the thriller, which is releasing January 26, 2013.

“If that works out, then December can see 7-8 big Bollywood stars as an early New Year’s gift to Dubai.”

For those wondering already, “Race 2” stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ameesha Patel. Phew!

The New Year will of course, see Snoop Dogg take the to stage on December 31 for the Atelier Festival with a volley of other stars.

Celebs ahoy in 2013

Next year, March will mark the entry of a huge Hollywood Production, with the film shoot of the legendary “Arabian Nights”, in Abu Dhabi.

In conjunction with local company Sky Events Management, the film stars Sir Anthony Hopkins, Zac Efron, Dwayne ‘The Rokc’ Johnson, Liam Hesmworth, Morgane Slemp and many others.

Directed and produced by Chuck Russell, the $90 million film will be shot in the specifically in Abu Dhabi, A Ain and Al Gharbeyah areas, Sky Events said in a statement.

Following this news, newly-engaged singer will be jetting into the region for a Mideast tour for retail brand, Millions of Milkshakes, which saw reality TV star Kim Kardashian jet into Dubai last year, with an upcoming visit to Kuwait and Bahrain from November 29-December 1.

Kim was accompanied by her famous mom, Kris Jenner; and it appears, Miley’s turn in the spotlight here is also slated to be a family affair.

Sheeraz Hasan, the founder of Millions of Milkshakes and the man behind the celebrity train headed for the region, tweeted over the weekend to confirm the same.

He stated: “In meetings discussing Miley Cyrus, Tish Cyrus Billy Ray Cyrus to visit Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and India.”

Miley’s mother, Tish responded to the tweet, adding one of her own to say: “Would love to visit Dubai. It’s my dream.”

It is unclear when the Cyrus’ will head down to sunshine city, but well-placed mole has whispered that the trip could coincide with Miley’s fiancé’s, Liam Hemsworth’s, trip to Abu Dhabi next March.

The mole also said a Miley concert could coincide with the trip, ahead of the Justin Bieber mega event on May 4, 2013 Sevens Stadium.

Needless to say, some more big names will drop before the year ends. Watch this space for more information in the coming weeks.

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