Shah Rukh Khan's appeal expands Bollywood horizons

The overseas marked for Indian films, so far largely confined to North America, UK, Middle East and Australia, now include a lot of Europe as Shah Rukh Khan's increasing fan base craves for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

Bollywood films have become increasingly popular in UK and USA thanks to the growing Indian Diaspora and most films are released in these two countries on the same day as in India.

In recent years, the Middle East, as well Australia and New Zealand have also emerged as flourishing markets where one has seen a rapid growth in consumer demand for Hindi films, making these stable revenue-earners for Studios. But who knew that the passion for Hindi cinema - and adoration for Shah Rukh Khan - extended far and wide into the heartland of Europe?

Yash Raj Films' much awaited release Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, directed by Aditya Chopra, and starring Shah Rukh Khan has now been confirmed to be released on December 12 - the same day it is releasing in India - in Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. This, of course, is in addition to a huge number of theatres all across the United Kingdom.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi will be releasing across 30 countries worldwide, and when Dutchmen and Germans and Swiss and French and Danes and Norwegians join thousands of overseas Indians in swaying to the sounds of Dance Pe Chance and Haule Haule, they will know what we have always known - that there is nothing quite like Hindi cinema to transport you to a different world and take your blues away.