As a token of appreciation to its Priority Banking customers, Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East in terms of assets, announced today that it is hosting an exclusive event which will be attended by the lead stars of the upcoming Bollywood film “Karthik Calling Karthik.” Held in association with Network International, the leading card solutions provider, the event will feature rock star Farhan Akhtar and Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone, who will both make appearances in person.
The event will take place on February 24, 2010, and will include a visit to Emirates NBD’s priority banking centre at its main branch in Deira, where select customers from Priority Banking, Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Loans and Retail Cards Business (RCB), will be invited to meet the stars personally. This will be followed by a press conference, a pre-premiere exclusive get-together at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, and the premier itself, all of which will be attended by Akhtar and Padukone.
“We are extremely pleased to announce our spectacular Bollywood event,” said Suvo Sarkar, General Manager, Retail Banking, Emirates NBD. “At Emirates NBD, we strongly believe in giving our valued customers exciting and unique opportunities to show our appreciation for their continuous loyalty and support. We would like to thank Farhan and Deepika for taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in this event, and we hope they enjoy their time in our beautiful city, where they will encounter a whole host of Bolywood fans from around the world.”
Directed by Vijay Lalwani, “Karthik Calling Karthik” is a romantic thriller that tells the tale of Karthik, an introvert whose lack of confidence has prevented him from leading a fulfilling life. His luck changes when he receives a mysterious phone call from another “Karthik,” whose advice turns his entire life around.
“India has always had a special relationship with the UAE and over the years, the entire Middle East has become an increasingly important region for the Bollywood film industry,” said Ritesh Sidhwani, Producer of “Karthik Calling Karthik.”
“The fact that the films are subtitled in Arabic highlights that Hindi movies are not only popular with expatriates from the Indian subcontinent, but Arab expats and locals as well. We are delighted to be here in Dubai and would like to extend our gratitude to Emirates NBD for giving us the opportunity to bring a taste of India to Dubai’s exquisite deserts in this exclusive event.”
