Princess Diaries

A role in a London musical was never in the realm of possibilities for the budding Bollywood playback singer8212;until she received a call from Michael E Ward, the producer of the musical. The popular item singer8212;known best for her 2003 chartbuster Mohabbat Hai Mirchi8212;was just about a year into her marriage with singer Kunal Ganjawala, of Murder fame. When she went for the audition, 8216;8216;I was sure I would be rejected,8217;8217; recalls the 24-year-old IIM Lucknow graduate. But the lady, who chucked the corporate world for music, was stunned when she got a comeback call.

It was a matter of faith for Ward and his director Gayle Edwards. But despite their confidence in Iyer, slipping into the role proved difficult for her. 8216;8216;Initially, it was a struggle. I was used to playback singing, not musicals.8217;8217; Then one day, after the first week of rehearsals in London, she slipped away to watch Les Miserables. 8216;8216;After that, everything fell into place.8217;8217;

The musical, which began on April 14, has received mixed reviews from the British press8212;some pan it, an equal following love it. But Iyer takes heart from the post-show compliments and the audience. 8216;8216;Almost everyone in Bollywood has seen it,8217;8217; says Iyer. Shah Rukh Khan, Subhash Ghai and Pooja Bedi8212;whose father Kabir also has a part in it8212;were among the first. Ganjawala spent 10 rainy days in London to lend emotional support to his wife. 8216;8216;He saw six shows and was quite impressed,8217;8217; smiles Iyer.

On the work front, West End has come with its own lessons and teething problems. 8216;8216;I work with thorough professionals, who never throw tantrums and are constantly trying to better their performances. But initially I was used to Mumbai timings, and really had to pull up my socks,8217;8217; she giggles.

Her co-stars include the well-known British actor Hadley Fraser, who8217;s also in Les Miserables, Kabir Bedi, Sophiya Haque of Channel V fame and Kulvinder Ghir. And the Mumbaikar been bowled over by all things London. 8216;8216;There8217;s so much to do,8217;8217; she says. 8216;8216;And unlike Mumbai, an evening out in London is not restricted to a club or a restaurant.8217;8217; But no, there are no plans to relocate: 8216;8216;My husband is in Mumbai. And I owe my present fame to Bollywood.8217;8217;

But some things have changed forever. The woman, who considered playback singing her goal, now wants to act, desperately. 8216;8216;I can8217;t imagine not trying out more roles,8217;8217; she says.

Her dream: To be directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The Plot
The saga of a love affair between a British officer Hadley Fraser and an Indian princess Gayatri Iyer, The Far Pavilions is based on MM Kaye8217;s international bestseller of the same name.

Set in the turbulent period between the Mutiny of 1857 and the Second Afghan War, the musical charts the journey of the orphan Lieutenant Ashton, aka Ashok, born of British parents, but raised by his Hindu nurse Sita and his Muslim mentor Khan Sahib Kabir Bedi.

The music, by Kuljit Bhamra, has a lot of bhangra beats and even gets the officers of the Queen8217;s army to do a balle shake.

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