IANS

The music launch of Ravi Chopra's "Babul", a film with a strong social message, was a glitzy affair with the entire cast walking the ramp and the who's who of Bollywood in attendance at the Grand Hyatt here.

Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee and John Abraham strutted the ramp in Neeta Lulla and Alvira Khan's creations. But it was Amitabh and Hema who turned out to be the show stealers Thursday night.

The audience was ecstatic when Amitabh, dressed in a black suit, escorted the dream girl, who was shimmering in a black sari.

Jaya Bachchan, who was present with daughter Shweta Nanda, told mediapersons: "I was asked to come early. I don't know what's happening around. I am waiting to see him (Amitabh)."

Said actress Isha Koppikar: "I have never seen him (Amitabh) walk the ramp. So I have come to see his long strides."

Also present were Bollywood bigwigs like Yash Chopra, Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu and many more.

When "Baghban" was released three years ago, audiences loved the Amitabh-Hema pair, especially when they danced to the tune of "Soni teri chaal soni re". The couple will be seen matching steps in "Babul" too.

Amitabh sang "Hori Khele Raghuveera' and "Chali Chali" in "Baghban" and this time too he has lent his voice to two songs of the multi-starrer film. The music has been composed by Aadesh Srivastava.

The film is scheduled for a December release.