Curtain goes up on new Lloyd Webber musical

The curtains have gone up on Andrew Lloyd Webber new musical Bombay Dreams which is debuting in London's West End.

A star-studded audience turned out for the lavish production at London's Apollo Victoria theatre.

Lloyd-Webber watched the performance in the company of Michael Caine and his wife, Shakira.

Denise Van Outen and Claire Sweeney were there along with Sir Bob Geldof, Barbara Windsor, Richard E Grant and Elaine Paige.

Many in the audience got into the Bollywood spirit by wearing saris and shalwar kameez to last night's opening night.

Lloyd-Webber's homage to the Indian film industry has been three years in the making with a reported budget of £4.5m (€7m).

Newcomer Raza Jaffrey plays the lead role of Akaash, a penniless Bombay boy plucked from obscurity to become a major Bollywood star.

Actress Preeya Kalidas, who appeared in box office hits Bend It Like Beckham and East is East, plays the heroine Priya.

The cast also includes This Life star Ramon Tikaram.