/> The decision to screen Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna in the 'Gala Section' of the Toronto Film Festival didn't exactly come as a surprise to Karan Johar.

Explains Karan, "I had met the head of the Toronto Film festival Cameron Bailey at the Cannes film festival in May. He had shown interest in KANK. This is the benefit of attending intentional cinema events. It's not just your vision as a cinema person that broadens.

Prospects of Indian cinema also get bettered. I'm specially glad about KANK being selected for Toronto because it might open up a new market for our cinema in North America.

I don't think any mainstream Hindi film before has been selected for Gala Presentation at Toronto."

Interestingly the Festival generally selects unreleased film. But with KANK they've made an exception.

Karan concedes, "Though my film is releasing in India in August they're nonetheless taking the film for their festival. A part of the credit must go to Times Of India's Meenakshi Shedde. She really pushed for the film.

The Toronto Festival directorate invited the film for a trial screening. Apparently all 14 members of the jury loved my KANK. They immediately selected the film."

The 'Gala Presentation' section of the Festival is reserved for big spectacular films. Karan plans to take his entire cast to Toronto.

"Our film will be screened there on 10 September. And I hope to be there with the entire cast. It's very gratifying to know that it's already being given such an honour abroad when in fact the film hasn't been seen by anyone in India yet."

Karan hopes to have the first full-length screening of the film for the cast and crew at the end of this month when Amitabh Bachchan returns from London.