For 28-year-old Kalidas Chandrasekharam, the audition for roles in Bombay Dreams promised to help realise his own. The dancer, who had been training in Bharatnatyam, Odissi and India's folk dance forms for the past 10 years in Britain as well as dabbling in salsa and jazz, saw it as the perfect opportunity to swagger into the mainstream arena. But he was in for a rude jolt.

THE CURTAIN RISES: Paula Jennings and Koel Purie (right) in Othello

"I had thought the emphasis would be on Asian dance and on people who have trained in Asian and contemporary dances," he says. "But it was mainly on jazz." With just two years of training in jazz, Chandrasekharam didn't make it for the role of Hijra Sweetie in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's stage extravaganza. "I can't sing, which is quite important. Or maybe I am a bit too tall for the role," he jokes. The part went to Raj Ghatak.

The dream, however, isn't quite shattered. Chandrasekharam-like scores of other starry-eyed Asians-has another chance of going mainstream, courtesy the nation-wide search for British-Asian performers launched by Lloyd-Webber for the 2003 run of Bombay Dreams. But it is not this production alone-a slew of theatre activities are giving aspiring and struggling Asian actors the opportunity to break into the thick of English theatre: the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is casting for Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children, Leicester Haymarket is playing Othello with Asian actors in lead roles and there are talks of an Asian Pride and Prejudice for television. Gurinder Chadha, in fact, is reportedly making a film on the English classic.

"There is so much talent out there, but few members of the Asian community are encouraged to enter the performing arts industry," says Raza Jaffrey, who plays Akaash, the male lead in Bombay Dreams. "Those who do sometimes feel they haven't got a chance. Bombay Dreams is unique in giving Asian talent a chance to shine and I hope that more and more people see theatre, drama and acting as a real career opportunity now that a precedent has been set."

And some precedent too. Bombay Dreams, with a predominantly British-Asian cast, has been playing to sell-out audiences in London's West End. Its successful run-the booking period has been extended and a production will open on Broadway in Spring 2004-has undoubtedly spurred on British-Asian artistes. And riding the crest currently is Midnight's Children.

ZUBIN VARLA

Role Model

Zubin Varla silences sceptics: "I don't think I had any problems because of my ethnicity. I have played not just Asian characters." Currently performing in Tears and Smiles at Sheffield Theatre, the 32-year-old is all smiles. "I have worked solidly for 10 years and have got to play lead roles," he says. Now, almost eight years after playing the ill-fated lover in Romeo and Juliet, he is back with the Royal Shakespeare Company-this time in Midnight's Children as Saleem Sinai, one of 1,001 children born at the stroke of midnight as India becomes independent on August 15, 1947. "There is so much information about the character and so many clues but it is never easy to play a character. Acting is creating a character," says Varla. For the next six months, the Parsi actor whose "first love was music" will play Rushdie's protagonist. But while we may hear a lot about Saleem Sinai, the one smiling will be Zubin Varla.

The cast of the multi-million pound production will be mostly Asian, providing many their first opportunity to work with the world's most prestigious theatre company. RSC has transformed Rushdie's 1981-novel into a three-hour stage play with a world premiere in London on January 18, 2003. It will then move to Michigan and the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York.

Leading the ensemble of 20 actors-two of them of Indian origin with key roles-in the RSC production is Parsi actor Zubin Varla, who will play the protagonist (see box). His earlier roles included those of Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar and Romeo in RSC's Romeo and Juliet. Also making his presence felt will be Kulvinder Ghir-star of the award-winning BBC comedy show Goodness Gracious Me.

Says actor Nina Wadia, who was approached by Rushdie himself for a role in Midnight's Children, but had to drop out for personal reasons: "Five or 10 years ago, it would have been a lot tougher for Asians to work for the RSC but I am pleased that things are changing a bit." Varla agrees that Asian actors have become more acceptable. "We see more Asian artistes on television, in the news and as presenters," he says.

Also symptomatic of the new change taking place is Iqbal Khan's Othello, which has actors with no ex-perience in Shakespearean plays taking on the lead roles. Although the production features a traditional black Othello, Khan has cast Asians for the roles of Iago, Cassio and Desdemona. "I picked them so that we can give it all a fresh approach," explains Khan.

Casting directors are looking for Asians who can dance, sing and act and have solid experience-a tall order, agrees Patrick Murphy, casting director, Bombay Dreams. "When the first-round of auditions were done, a lot of raw talent got the opportunity. It requires a lot of discipline to do eight shows a week for 40 weeks. It takes a high level of commitment. We took a chance on some people and it really paid off," he says.

But while there seems to be a surge in demand for Asian talent, the supply is just not meeting up. "It is difficult to find older Asian performers who can sing and also command stage presence," says Murphy. A reason why the company is open to the idea of scouting in India like it did for the role of Madan, portrayed by seasoned Indian actor Dalip Tahil.

However, with more opportunities coming along, Asians in Britain may find that hitting the big league is no longer a distant dream. Chandrasekharam, who is studiously preparing for the Bombay Dreams auditions, is optimistic: "I hope it's better this time and I get a break." It may only be a matter of time.