Bollywood goes the Broadway way in new Vegas style destination

The venue, billed as a place to showcase India's film talent and theatre will also offer a peak into performance arts, cultural diversity, heritage crafts, cuisine and shopping to visitors and global tourists.

Spread across six acres of land next to the upcoming World Trade Centre, the "Kingdom" owned by the Great Indian Nautanki Company, a joint venture between Wizcraft International Entertainment and Apra Group of companies was inaugurated on Friday by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

"There is a buzz among foreigners about Bollywood and we are attempting to showcase a multiplex of life in India. It is India's answer to Las Vegas and will attract a lot of tourists," Viraf Sarkar, Director Wizcraft, and co-promoter of the project said.

Set up on land leased by HUDA, the entertainment and leisure destination is being promoted among travel and tour operators worldwide.

"We are opening well ahead of upcoming Commonwealth Games, and the soon to be opened Metro will provide easy connectivity for visitors to the venue. We have talked about the event at travel marts and will promote it with over 500 tour operators worldwide," says Anumod Sharma, a co-promoter.

The first cinematic production to be staged here is a love story starring actors Vivek Oberoi, Isha Sharvani and Gauhar Khan with a crew of 100 members. The trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will compose the music for the magnum oppus whose story, screenplay and dialogues are written by Javed Akthar.

"We hope to involve other actors as we go along. The Phanton of the Opera musical has been running constantly for the last 22 years, so why cant we do it," says Sharma, who together with Sarkar had envisaged the venue over 14 years ago.
The organisers say talks are on with other musicals across the world to perform here.

While a 850-seater "Nautanki Mahal" will showcase Bollywood musical everyday, an approximately 100,000 sq ft "Culture Gully" will be a boulevard of arts, crafts and a choice of 400 different cuisines handpicked from various states.

"Show Shaa Theatre" with a capacity of 250 seats will stage plays. It will showcase three shows a day, including Indian mythology, Balle Balle - My Big Fat Indian Wedding Show, and A Great Indian Talent Circus.

"Entry to the venue will be priced with tickets ranging from Rs 750 to Rs 5000," says Sharma.A lounge "IIFA Buzz" dedicated to Indian International Film Academy (IIFA), will display an archival of Indian cinema with posters of popular films.