Lloyd Webber believed that the show defied gravity in one of the worst ever West End seasons and confounded many critics by bringing a new audience to the theatre. About a million people have seen the show in London.

Webber, whose awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys, six Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and an International Emmy, had gone without a new hit for nearly a decade till Bombay Dreams suddenly resurrected his career.

Will Broadway, where big shows like Gypsy struggle to recoup their investment, emulate the show's success in London?

On Broadway, Bombay Dreams is one of the costliest shows. But unlike such expensive shows like Wicked and The Producers that each cost about $13 million, it is set in Bollywood, which is unfamiliar to Americans.

"We recognise we have a challenge on our hands," says Steven Pimlott, who also directed the British version. But the show has been creating quite a bit of buzz, he says, adding that people should discover a few things about Bollywood soon. Early in the show, a situation has been created to get the audiences know a few key things about Bollywood.

"Once people get to know what Bollywood is about," says Rahman, "they will feel at home." But it was crucial to create "the details about Bollywood early on in the show," he adds.

Email this page to a friend