Ranchi, March 25: It seems like Jollywood has finally got its blockbuster moment.

The much-awaited premiere of Nagpuri film Karma at the capital’s Meenakshi cinema hall was a star-studded affair.

Besides tinsel down, there were heavyweights such as former chief minister Babulal Marandi, mayor Rama Khalkho, deputy mayor Ajay Nath Shahdeo and head of Hindi department of St. Xavier’s College Kamal Bose, who had also come to catch the first show.

The love story, starring National School of Drama graduate Deepak Lohar, along with Varsha and Ajay Soni, has all the elements of a commercial pot-boiler. The film received an overwhelming response.

Marandi said that there is no dearth of talent in the state and government support would help promote Jollywood. “Even our state can develop into a mini-Mumbai if we rope in budding actors and actresses,” said the former CM.

The film has been shot in picturesque locations in Jharkhand, including Ranchi and Ghatshila, and took two years to be made. Producer Rajesh Kesaria said it his first Nagpuri film. “Normally the budget for regional films are low but we have made this film on a decent scale,” he said.

The director, Rajiv Sinha, had earlier made the Nagpuri film Sun Sajana. He will make a Bengali film next.

“Very few people from the city come to the theatres to watch regional films, but we are hopeful that this film will attract the urban crowds as well,” he said, adding the target audience of Karma was the rural masses.