Bollywood’s invasion of Tampa officially kicked off Wednesday night in downtown Tampa.

The International Indian Film Academy hosted Stomp Bollywood at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. 

The festival featured traditional Bollywood music and dancing and was highlighted by the playing of IIFA’s official song, Do Da Tampa, sure to be stuck in many heads tonight.

The catchy song is a collaboration between DJ Ravidrums, known to some local Tampa Chamberlain High graduates as Rari Jakhotia, and Bay area musician Gumbi Ortiz.

Fans arrived early, hoping to get a glimpse of their favorite stars. 

Dozens of female fans swarmed actor Anil Kapoor as he arrived, taking photos and asking for autographs.

“Clearly they weren’t here to see me, as sad as that is to admit. My days have come and gone,” joked Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who greeted the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ star in the midst of the madness. “But for someone who is an A-list movie star, he is very down to earth and a wonderful, wonderful guy.” 

Adding, the two had dinner at his house in Mumbai. 

The idea to bring the awards to Tampa has been two years in the making and the man responsible couldn’t be more excited.

“This is what I worked for. And it is here. So that’s a lot of excitement,” said Chetan Shah, local IIFA founder. “This is for the community. The community made this possible. It is not a single person, yes I started the process but without everybody’s support this is not possible.”

“It’s a huge opportunity to once again tell Tampa’s story to the entire world," said Buckhorn. “Eight hundred million people will watch this event.”

It was clear from the crowds at Wednesday night’s kick-off event that Bollywood films are huge in the Tampa Bay area.

Tony Singh and Joyce Nandram are originally from India but now live in Tampa.

“We grew up with Indian movies and music,” said Nandram. “So, we’re very excited.”

Both will be attending the awards Saturday night. They paid $300 for their tickets.

“The fans are crazy,” Shah said. “I’m so overwhelmed with all the Facebooks and Twitters and all the postings and craziness at the airport, all the stars arriving.

“That’s what we want, that's the way it should be. It’s all exactly the way the script is written. That’s the way it is going.”’