Bollywood and James Bond will dominate the Muscat International Film Festival (MIFF) with the premiere of a big budget Indian spy movie and two former 007 actors due to make an appearance for the espionage-themed eight-day event. The Omani capital’s annual film showcase opened on Saturday and Bollywood blockbuster ‘Agent Vinod’ is set to host a red carpet premiere tonight, with stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor due to attend.

The Bollywood spy thriller adds to the espionage theme of the festival, which runs until March 31, with the event set to mark the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise. Renowned actor Roger Moore, the star of seven James Bond films, has been invited and is due to attend, as is Australian star George Lazenby, who made a solo appearance as the British agent in 1969’s ‘On Her Majesty's Secret Service’.

Other Bond alumni set to attend include five-time Bond director John Glen and Bond girl Britt Ekland. In its seventh year, MIFF will also be feature Oscar winners Forest Whittaker and Susan Sarandon and Lord of the Rings actor Billy Boyd.

Lebanese singing sensation Nancy Ajram was the musical talent at the opening ceremony, while other stars set to grace the event include Oman's Salah Al Zadjali, violinist Billy Ban Ban, ballad singer Lucky Ali, Indian flute master Pandit Shiv Prasad Chaurasia, classical dancers Ramli Ibrahim and percussionist Sivamani.