It appears BC’s investment into a Bollywood Film Festival is paying off, so far.
Organizers say tickets are in a virtual sellout after going on sale Friday for the first-ever Times of India Awards.
Last month, the event put the Clark Government on the defensive.
"We've had so much excitement from all over the world,” says event spokesperson Laura Balance.
She says she's taken more than 15-hundred phone calls from people across the province and around the world wanting to attend the three-day event in April.
The highlight is the awards ceremony at BC Place, where tickets are selling for up to $3,250.
"This is the biggest stars of Hindi film coming to Canada."
Premier Christy Clark announced the event last month, saying the 12-million-dollar investment will attract tourists and an international t-v audience.
Critics questioned the cost, the start date landing just ahead of May’s election, and a lack of support for BC’s own film industry in terms of tax incentives.