MUMBAI: Dubai is set to host a first-of-its-kind Broadway musical extravaganza, Miss Bollywood, led by Shilpa Shetty in the first quarter of 2008 after its first leg of road show in Europe.
The stage theatrical is organised, promoted and produced by Farhath Hussain and co-produced by Dubai-based entrepreneurs, M S Ajmal and Raj Kundra. Miss Bollywood is directed by the Morani Brothers, Soorma and Michael E. Ward.
“This is the very first time Dubai is going to witness an eclectic and enchanting theatrical of this magnitude. The musical extravaganza will be coming to Dubai after a hugely successful debut in Europe,” said Ajmal.
Shilpa Shetty will be leading a performing company of over 40 leading dancers from Bollywood and beyond in a musical extravaganza.
Shetty said, “The project has been a labour of love in its entirety, and seeing its fruition, from the initial concept into a tangible realisation has been a dream come true. Miss Bollywood will appeal not only to fans of Bollywood films and their super catchy hit songs but also to the mainstream audiences for high energy dance or musical theatre. Extravaganza is the right description!”
Miss Bollywood is set against the backdrop of London, in preparing for the 2012 Olympics. It follows the story of ‘Maya’ – performed by Shilpa Shetty – a classically trained dancer and choreographer, recently arrived from India to set up a dance academy in a soon to be demolished East London building. Maya soon finds herself thrust into the limelight, where she must either sink or swim. Her tribulations include the unwanted attentions of a famous but predatory choreographer and a jealous diva.
Commenting on the show, Hussain added, “I am thrilled at the end result of a spectacular theatrical project that has involved an unlimited abundance of passion, talent and commitment from all of those involved. It is a highly innovative and original piece of theatre that will span the appeal of a huge cross section of theatregoers, combining as it does, all of the winning ingredients of the classic Bollywood film formula – a perfect concept to bring to the musical stage.”
Miss Bollywood is devised by choreographer Ganesh Hegde, whose previous credits include working with Michael Jackson and Shah Rukh Khan.
Miss Bollywood also takes a gentle look at the cultural divide between characters with Asian heritage but who consider themselves totally British and those who are from India in search of fame and fortune in Europe’s multi-cultural capital city.
