Meet the Producers
The clock is ticking and nerves are on edge – a common scenario when you are producing a stage show of this scale. ‘Kiss Machaye Dhoom’ is the first production by the director-producer team Dance-a-licious. Based on the history of Bollywood this musical production will entertain and enchant the audience with spectacular dancing to the music of Bollywood’s golden years to the present.
Getting the UK’s best known entertainers and Bollywood dance academies to perform on the same night under the same roof is not a piece of cake, but the 25-year-old producer Paresh Vara is not one to be bogged down easily. The father of a newborn baby boy, Paresh works in the hotel industry and has many years of directing and producing local community shows under his belt.
“During my school years, I had parts in productions such as 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'Joseph and his Technicolor Dream Coat'. I also worked as a Haven Europe kid’s club entertainer in France for 3 summers, which included entertaining the children during 
the day and performing in the evening on stage for the large family cabarets and show. Later on I did a number of productions for Diwali functions, working with large number of people of all age groups.”
The news that some of the performers have decided to pull out don’t stress him. “I enjoy big challenges”, he says with a grin and rushes to answer his forever ringing phone. Needless to say that he already has a backup plan. There will probably be more unforeseen challenges in the run-up to the big day on Saturday, 26th April, but with Paresh the production is in good hands: Organizing, it seems, runs in his blood.
And while the energetic Paresh pulls the strings, his creative counterpart, Roshni Ladva, the director of the show, is throwing herself into the task of creating her first production with her own team.
Juggling family life with a career and two other creative side businesses, Roshni knows the value of team work and is modest in admitting to being the creative soul behind the show: “I am the director of the production. To be fair, I think the title is just some words that sit along with your name. I have created the team, their roles and the overall idea, however, without my team and their unreserved support none of this would have been possible. This show is about us as a team as much as it is about the show itself. “
Dr Desi: Why Bollywood?
Paresh: Because I love the music and the colours - Bollywood always makes me want to get up and dance!
Roshni: I use Bollywood to channel my stress. I lead a busy hectic life and when I sit back and watch an “Indian Flick”, I feel totally engrossed in another world, away from the day to day happenings. The glamour, the scenery and the ‘feel good factor’ of the films totally inspire me.
Dr Desi: When did you start working on this show?
Paresh: We had the idea in November, but started all the work at the beginning of January 2008. Its gone really fast from being a small show to a massive Bollywood production, which is fantastic. We have a great team on board working together and a lot of help and support from our academies, friends & family. It’s a very enjoyable experience!!
Roshni: No stressful moments as yet, but quite a few comical ones. I think I LAUGH at least 5 times a day about something that has happened.
The show is in aid of the Asian People’s Disability Alliance. Is this a charity close to your heart?
Roshni: Personally, yes, it is very close to my heart. I am always amazed at how normal people without a disability can be disheartened and stressed by so much in their daily life. Disabled people, on the other hand, have to overcome so many challenges in their life to do normal things and live a normal life…
How much money are you hoping to raise?
We have all invested personally into the production, because as a new company it was a little difficult to get sponsorship for the entire function. But as time went by and as our production developed, people started to see our work and our professionalism and we have gained a lot of support from our sponsors.
However, we have still to raise a lot of money to ensure that we not only break even but also raise a fair some total for our charity.
What are your next projects?
Paresh: Dancealicious will be back, don’t want to give too much away, but there will be some projects in the future, keep tuned to Dr Desi and you will find out!
Kiss Machaye Dhoom
Saturday, 26 April
2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Artsdepot, North Finchley, London
Box office: 020 8369 54 54 or book online
