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"RAJU CHACHA" TO BE PREMIERED IN LOS ANGELES

From News Dispatches

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New Delhi - "Raju Chacha", produced by Hindi filmstar Ajay Devgan, is scheduled to be premiered in Los Angeles later this month - probably the first time a mainstream Hindi film is being premiered abroad.

The world premiere, scheduled for Dec. 28 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, promises to be a gala event, with the stars of the film - Ajay Devgan, Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Kajol - as well as former tennis star Vijay Amritraj already on the guest list, The Asian Age reported.

The funds raised by the premiere will go to the Indian-American Cultural and Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to young Indians across the United States. To coincide with the premiere, SmasHits.com, the official sponsor of the event, will conduct interviews and live chats with the stars of "Raju Chacha," the report said.

Abesh Verma, chief executive officer of SmasHits.com, was quoted by the newspaper as saying that he was "very excited " to showcase "Raju Chacha" in Los Angeles.

He felt there was no place better than Hollywood, "the original home of showbiz," to premiere a film.

The movie revolves around three children, living a fairytale life with their father (Kapoor). But with the sudden death of their father, they are left in the care of a governess (Kajol). Soon, however, their uncles begin harassing them for their sprawling property, but they find a savior in Devgan, who is out to woo Kajol. The film promises the usual fare of entertainment, along with elements of melodrama.

This Christmas attraction has a lot of in store for the children, including a song about a lion and lioness sung by none other than Kapoor himself.

But the major surprise in the film, directed by Devgan's brother Anil, is the identity of the protagonist, "Raju Chacha," the Age report said.

According to reports in some film trade journals the role has been played not by Kapoor or Devgan, but by Sanjay Dutt, who makes a surprise appearance.