A SCREAMING group of appreciative Bollywood fans met the Asian film world’s newest superstar as he paid a visit to Bradford this evening.

Ranveer Singh, who is starring in next month’s premiere of the romantic comedy, Befikre, was mobbed as he called in to the National Media Museum for a questions and answers session prior to appearing on stage in City Park.

More than 300 people packed into Pictureville to see a screening of his debut film, Band Baaja Baaraat, launched in 2010, before the star himself appeared on stage alongside Bradford businesswoman Fatima Patel and David Wilson, director of Bradford City of Film, who both asked questions before the audience was given chance to put their own questions to him.

Mr Singh said he was himself thrilled to meet everyone and followed up his selfie promise by having his photograph taken with almost everyone in the cinema.

He told the audience: “I am overwhelmed with the response from you all. I want to give every one of you a hug and a kiss if you let me. Thank you all for coming here to see me.”

Mr Wilson said he was delighted how Mr Singh had embraced the city’s invitation to attend Bradford.

“The evening has gone absolutely fantastically. He has been very relaxed with everyone and has spoken very honestly and freely. Bradford has been linked to Yash Raj Films for 50 years and this occasion was like bringing it home in a way. We wanted to bring the VIP element to the people of Bradford because it all happens in London. It has been a huge success and we are all delighted.”

Mr Singh spoke of his early desire to act and how he temporarily lost faith in himself until Maneesh Sharma, who he had met when he was 16 and who was directing Band Baaja Baaraat, gave him a call to give him his first lead role. The casting director remembered me and said I had "got something".

"My advice to any budding actor or actress is to go into acting because you love it, not for the glitter and fame. You have to be in it for the love of acting. It is as simple as that.

"I had wanted to be an actor from a young age but I had no film background and instead went into creative writing for a while. It was later I began to make up my acting portfolio. Getting the lead role in Band Baaja Baaraat was a fluke. The casting director remembered me and said I "had something". To get that lead role was a dream. Befikre's director Aditya Chopra also saw the audition and told everyone he believed in me and the rest is history."

Asked about the terror attacks in Paris while Befikre was being filmed he said it was the desire of Chopra to remain in Paris and continue filming.

"Chopra said Paris was almost like a third character. It was a city of love and we would stay there to film. The support we all got from the Parisians was overwhelming.

After the selfie session, Mr Singh signed the guitar of Doncaster College lecturer Noreen Nasim who had travelled from Sheffield to see him.

Another woman had flown in from Pakistan and managed to have a selfie taken with the actor before she had to rush off to catch her plane back home.

Mr Singh later joined his Befikre co-star Vaani Kapoor on stage at city park watched by an audience of thousands of excited fans.

The free event was hosted by comedian Tez Ilyas and featured live performances by international singer and former Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestant, Harshi Mad; British music star Arjun; and urban Punjabi singer Tasha Tah.

Befikre debuts on December 9.