BBC’s popular day time soap ‘Doctors’ underwent a recent makeover as the cast donned brightly coloured saris for a special Bollywood bonanza.
Bhangra star Navin Kundra, along with a flourish of smiling dancers, completed the ‘Big Bollywood Proposal’ scene which has been hailed by fans as ‘spectacular’.
The clip quickly went viral, reaching up to 100,000 organic views on Facebook over its debut weekend a record first for the soap.
British singer songwriter Navin Kundra said: “The producers of the show contacted me a few months back about using some of my music in the episode for a special proposal and asked if I would also feature in it. I was absolutely delighted and agreed to be a part of it.”
He adds: “They had a really strong vision and it’s very different for the popular soap, which is watched by over a million people every day, so good on them for wanting to attempt something new and fun to treat their viewers.”
Kundra even reworked his hit single “Mehbooba” for the episode and called in talented singer, Rekha Sawhney to duet with him.
“It was exciting to go back to the song and give it a new life,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that the lyrics would fit the characters and story so I spent some time watching and studying past episodes before re-writing parts of the song.”
Birmingham local Dance Academy, Bollywood Dreams, were masterminds behind the specially choreographed routine that was performed by all the cast on set.
Artistic Director, Reena Tailor and co-choreographer Sharaz Younas worked tirelessly with students from the academy to prefect the final routine.
Sharaz adds: it was an honour to be involved in such a great creative collaboration, between Bollywood Dreams Sampad and the BBC coming together and making it happen. The director was so open to suggestions and it all came together so well.”
He adds: “Everybody worked really hard and respected each other; it truly was a seamless process.”
BBC Producer, Nasreen Ahmed said “The whole sequence was filmed in one day on location and was one of the most amazing things we have ever done here at BBC Doctors.
“Navin looked every bit the dashing Bollywood superhero in his white suit as he joined our amazing cast in a glittery colourful setting to perform the routine.
“It was a long day but his enthusiasm was contagious and never wavered. “Mehbooba” and Navin Kundra’s collaboration with us will live on long after the episode airs.”
Comments under the viral video suggested that the clip came about at the perfect time, with many saying that it helped to show a unified community when it seemed more distant than ever.
Younas continued: “The response has been amazing, so many have said that with the recent attacks and divisions in our community, it really helped to see two different world merging so effortlessly in a celebration of diversity.”
Honoured to be joining the cast and crew, Navin adds: “I’ve been a part of many couple’s proposals, first dances and love stories through my music, but this is the first time I’ve done it on television! Anyone looking for marriage proposal ideas…this is the best you can get!”
