Sky News – Tuesday 21st June, 2002

Denise Spices Up Eastern Night

Denise Van Outen added her own sort of eastern spice as stars turned out for the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bollywood musical. The TV and stage beauty sported a revealing white dress with a Kama Sutra style image of a couple getting intimate for the show – which later received rave reviews from the critics.

The 27-year-old flashed a cheeky smile as she arrived at the Apollo Victoria theatre for the world premiere of Bombay Dreams.

Afterwards the Daily Mail’s Michael Coveney said the music was “continuously beguiling” and “worthy of Lloyd Webber at his best”. The Mirror’s Kevin O’Sullivan said theatregoers “can’t help being seduced by its charm”.

Wearing saris

Lord Lloyd-Webber watched the production in the company of Sir Michael Caine and his wife Shakira.

Claire Sweeney, who like Van Outen has starred in the hit musical Chicago, was also there, along with Sir Bob Geldof, Barbara Windsor, actor Richard E Grant and Elaine Paige. Many in the audience got into the Bollywood spirit by wearing saris and shalwar kameez. Lord Lloyd-Webber’s homage to the Indian film industry has been three years in the making with a reported budget of £4.5m.

Extravaganza

Newcomer Raza Jaffrey plays the lead role of Akaash, a penniless Bombay boy plucked from obscurity to become a major Bollywood star.

Actress Preeya Kalidas, who appeared in box office hits Bend It Like Beckham and East Is East, plays the heroine Priya. The cast also includes This Life star Ramon Tikaram.

Lord Lloyd-Webber is hoping the lavish Indian extravaganza will cash in on the current vogue for all things Bollywood but advance ticket sales have not matched those of some other West End productions.

It is scripted by Goodness Gracious Me star Meera Syal and the music is written by A R Rahman, a man responsible for over 50 Bollywood soundtracks.