Bollywood film role for dancer

2:13pm Thursday 16th March 2006

A Surbiton woman has won her first part in a Bollywood film, with famous artist and comedian Devang Patel.

Kajal Sehmi, 23, has had a keen interest in Bollywood dancing since the age of 10 and has performed in numerous shows and functions over the years.

She has used her skills to co-ordinate fashion shows and now teaches Bollywood dancing to students aged four and above.

But her big break came through a casting director who spotted her doing an advert in Mumbai, and suggested her for a role in Aahiq Bechara, meaning Poor Lover.

She said: "I was thinking whether or not to do it but in the end I finally thought I would do it. What is there to lose?

"I met the crew and production team and I was told Mr Patel would be doing it. He is a comedian in India who is really well known, and when Asian people hear his name their faces will light up."

The film was shot in locations including Slough, Oxford, Wembley and Hounslow High Street over just a few weeks in December, with Kajal playing the lead role alongside Mr Patel, who has to choose from four women who want to marry him.

The film is due out in April or May, and the production team, Shenaz Films, is hoping to have a premiere in both India and London.

Kajal's friend Radhika Parmar said: "We are proud and lucky to have a young artist from Kingston to have achieved many talents and succeeded in the most popular Bollywood industry.

"Outside her media life, Kajal has devoted herself to many religious activities that involve meditation, carrying out religious rituals, keeping fasts and carrying out charity work."

It is these religious activities Kajal will be concentrating on for the next few months, working with her family and Kingston Council, but she hopes there will be more film opportunities in the summer.

She added: "Devang was great, he had people laughing all the way through filming and he wrote the music. It is a good family film and will have tears in peoples eyes when it comes out.

"I have been offered a few films through the same production team. I really need to thank the producer Rafiq Ahmed, co-producer Aslam Ahmed and co-director Altaf Sheikh."

drankin@london.newsquest.co.uk