Canada's most populous city is bonkers for Bollywood this week as stars from India's hugely popular film industry are set to arrive for the landmark world premiere of "Guru."

It's rare for such events to take place outside of India, and the premiere has many in the city's South Asian community buzzing with anticipation. Some fans have dished out hundreds of dollars for a ticket to Thursday's red-carpet gala screening.

"I'm really excited! I'm a great fan," said Subakar Thayalachelvam, co-owner of the Bollywood DVD Center in Toronto, adding that he has to be out of town Thursday. "I've actually purchased a $250 ticket but then I gave it away because I couldn't go."

Thayalachelvam said several of his friends have paid big dollars to be at the premiere. "I know a couple of people who actually bought tickets for $350," he said.

"Bollywood is a big thing down here... so everybody knows it now. Everybody watches Bollywood movies in Toronto. It's more multicultural and diverse."

Several Toronto-based fans on the Internet forum bollywood.meetup.com also said they were thrilled about the soiree.

"Oh this is so exciting!" wrote a poster with the alias "Cecilia."

"I think I will try to go there after work with my camera of course and try my luck, although who knows how I will make it past the hordes who are expected to show up."

Directed by Mani Ratnam, "Guru" is a rags-to-riches love story starring Bollywood superstar Abhishek Bachchan as a man who strives to climb to the top of the business ladder.

Bachchan and his co-star, Aishwarya Rai, are to walk the red carpet with the rest of the cast at the Elgin Theatre Thursday evening. A press conference originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon was postponed until Friday morning because of changes to the stars' flights, said organizers.

City officials said they expect up to 10,000 fans to line the streets outside the Yonge Street theatre to catch a glimpse of Rai and Bachchan at the premiere.

Officials asked police to block off part of the street in anticipation of the hysteria.

"There's a huge buzz," said Peter Finestone, director of investment marketing for the City of Toronto, which has been helping the film's distributors with the premiere.

"I think (it's) just fabulous and a huge benefit to the city."

Toronto Mayor David Miller had personally invited the cast for the world premiere after Roger Nair Productions, based in Mississauga, Ont., acquired the Canadian distribution rights of the Hindi film.

Nair said demand for tickets to the gala was hot. "It is insane. It's insane!" he said Wednesday over the phone, adding that theatres across the country have been calling asking if they can show the film.

Top price for the gala is $500, although fans need wait only another day to see the film at regular box office prices. "Guru" opens in cities across Canada on Friday.