Bollywood News

After over 300 shows, mixed critical notices and thousands of happy viewers, Broadway musical "Bombay Dreams" is taking a break in January.

The musical, which opened in New York on Apr 29 with some alterations in comparison with its original London version, may not have been an unqualified critical success but has managed to capture popular imagination.

"Like three other Broadway shows which are going off, we too have decided to take a break," tells Sudhir Vaishnav, the show's co-producer. He said the decision was made after reviewing the advance ticket sales for January.

The Broadway production of "Bombay Dreams" reportedly cost $14.5 million and had a monthly operating cost of $2 million. In order for it to break even, industry sources said, it would have had to make two and a half times the amount.

Asked if the production would be profitable, Vaishnav said he could not comment yet since the figures had yet to be audited.

He said the producers were reviewing some proposals to take the show on a national tour and then to Canada. "The national tour could materialise as early as next spring. Our Canadian partners TGA Entertainment are working to take to the country after that," he said.

Asked about some of the Broadway critics' tepid response to the show, Vaishnav said: "They are way too old-fashioned. My experience is that the audiences have really loved the show."

He said 70 percent of the show's audience was mainstream Americans and the rest South Asians.

"I think we did manage to establish a link with the South Asian community," he added.

Sources in the production office said producers were considering roping in well-known names in Bollywood to add to the appeal. Among the names mentioned are actors Anupam Kher and his wife Kirron Kher apart from upcoming actress Neha Dhupia for the main role of Rani.