Ana Ilmi has described performing at the London Palladium in Beyond Bollywood as "an unbelievable opportunity".
The 28-year-old dancer from Delhi plays the female lead in the lavish West End production, which takes audiences on a breathtaking journey across India through its dance and culture.
In an interview with Digital Spy, Ilmi said: "It was unbelievable because I have been a student of jazz and contemporary, and Ashley Lobo, my mentor, was trained abroad, so we've always heard of musicals like Wicked and The Lion King and we've always dreamt of performing on a stage like that. And now it's happening. I'm really looking forward to it."
Describing her character in the show, Shaily Shergill, she said: "She's a very naïve, very innocent girl. She's very ambitious. She's always lived under her mother's shadow because she worships her mother's style of kathak. So after her mother passes away she really wants to carry on her mother's legacy.
"She travels to India to discover her roots and discovers where kathak comes from. She discovers everything from bhangra to Bollywood and comes back to Munich after discovering herself and where she comes from."
Describing her own influences as a dancer, Ilmi cited stars of East and West, including Michael Jackson and Madhuri Dixit, as her inspiration.
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She recalls: "I remember my father getting a DVD of the making of 'Thriller'; how it was choreographed and how Michael Jackson was inspired by tap dancing and I was fascinated by that. He was brilliant. Madonna was another huge inspiration because she dances with abandon and there's nothing stopping her.
"I danced for Madhuri Dixit in Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and she is actually that graceful. Hrithik Roshan is a brilliant dancer and he is a star. That's the kind of artist I want to be. You see him just standing in a corner in a crowd and he stands out from everyone."
Ilmi revealed it was a coincidence that she was cast in the lead role of Beyond Bollywood opposite her India's Dancing Superstar dance partner Mohit Mathur.
She revealed that their sparkling on-screen chemistry often has people wondering whether there is a real-life romance between the two.
"On the reality show they love masala and we were constantly questioned, 'You dance so closely, there must be something between you', she added.
"Our main forte was our on-screen chemistry. People couldn't believe we could be so close and there could be nothing between us. But that's how we are as dancers. I have an amazing dance partner."
Acknowledging the challenges of performing in a live stage show, Ilmi revealed: "It's very different rehearsing like this and going on the stage and dancing in heavy costumes. I have 14 costume changes so you need a lot of stamina."
Summing up the production of Beyond Bollywood, which captures the dance, music and magic of India, Ilmi said: "I think the audience will be mesmerised. The reason being there's a lot of dance steps coming together. You don't see so many dance styles all in one place.
"Between the costumes, the music and with the kind of variety of dance forms, we actually show you India in two hours. I think that is the main thing the audiences will take from it."
The lavish production features original music by award-winning composers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, with lyrics penned by Iqbal lyricist Irfan Siddiqui.
Beyond Bollywood comes to London on May 8 for its UK premiere. Tickets are available at the official website.
