BOLLYWOOD COMES TO SELFRIDGES!
Amitabh & Jaya To Attend

Selfridges will play host to Bollywood, a celebration of the greatest film industry in the world: its stars, its creators, its lifestyle, running throughout May 2002.

At the heart of the store, Selfridges will be transformed by a series of sets on a grand scale designed by one of India's most celebrated film designers, Nitin Desai; Desai's long list of credits includes the oscar nominated Lagaan, Mira Nair's Oscar nominated Salaam Bombay and most recently the long-awaited remake of the Bollywood classic Devdas, to be released later this summer.

The film set metaphor will be extended further at Selfridges by the meticulous full-scale reconstruction of an entire floor of Bollywood film star, Dimple Kapadia's home, designed by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. Abu and Sandeep's signature style is expressed in sumptuous one-off designs of clothes, furniture and decorative arts employing India's beautiful traditional craft skills in a thoroughly contemporary environment.

The Bollywood film industry is a global phenomenon, producing over 800 films a year on the lot at Film City in Mumbai, rivalling Hollywood in its output and scale.

The illusion of the movie is part of the real life of Mumbai: in the studios and amazing homes of the stars, the fashion, the cinemas and in publicity on every street corner. Fans go to watch big Bollywood films a dozen, a hundred, even two hundred times. The stars are mobbed wherever they go.

Selfridges customers will be able to experience the Bollywood lifestyle throughout the store and meet the artists themselves in live performances of dance and music, film screenings, exclusive fashion shows, delicious specialist foods in the food hall, cooking in the restaurants by India's leading chefs from the Taj group of hotels, as well as an array of precious objects and designs for the home.

Throughout the Bollywood season, Selfridges will present a series of discussions and master classes in association with the British Film Institute (BFI), with leading creators from Bollywood, including directors, actors, designers and choreographers.

EVENTS LISTINGS:

PERSONAL APPEARANCES
A host of personal appearances by Bollywood stars and key figures from the film world will be happening throughout the month.

· 3 May - Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan in-store signing DVDs (London only)

· 4 May - Dimple Kapadia will be signing DVDs, 2.00pm onwards in the Bollywood Mansion, (London only).

· 5 May - Dimple Kapadia will be signing DVDs, 2.00pm onwards in the Bollywood Mansion, (London only).

· 10 May - Yash and Karan Johar, producer and director of Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Gham will be signing copies of their DVD, book and CD. 2pm - 4pm, London.

· 11 May - Yash and Karan Johar, producer and director of Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Gham will be signing copies of their DVD, book and CD. From 1.30pm - 2.30pm Manchester.

· 21 May - Meet Ayla Hussain, Cavan Mahony and Christy Turlington - the dynamic team of women behind the holistic ayurvedic skincare line SUNDARI between 12pm and 2pm. SUNDARI is the secret of Ayurvedic skincare - the traditional healing system of India -that help create an individual sense of well being suited to specific needs.

BOOK PROGRAMME
Book signings and seminars hosted by a variety of authors will cover the lifestyle and glamour of Bollywood. Seminars will take place between 6-8pm and tickets cost £3. Topics will include travel, cinema, and contemporary fiction.

· 13 May - Justine Hardy
Chris England

· 20 May - Nasreen Munni Kabir

· 21 May - Ruchir Joshi
Anita Nair
Shyama Perera
Hari Kunzru
William Sutcliffe

22 May - Ismail Merchant

CUSTOMER PREMIER
4 - 5 MAY
The Bollywood Customer Premier kicks off on Saturday 4th May in London and Sunday 5th May in Manchester. Visitors to Selfridges will receive red carpet treatment, with garlands handed out by 'Bollywood girls' as well as spectacular performances by dance troupes.

DANCE WEEK
6 - 12 MAY
Bollywood Dance Week at Selfridges will present show-stopping dances and performances. Exclusive shows will include a dance troupe from Bombay, choreographed by the legendary dancer Ganesh Hedge in London and hosted by the UK's leading Indian dance expert Honey Kalaria in Manchester.

Customers will have the opportunity to take dancing lessons in Bhangra and Bollywood from Honey Kalaria who will sign copies of her newly released video 'The Power of Bollywood Dance & Fitness'. Dance Week will also include special performances by Thali dancers and Spin dancers.

Performances:
London: 12pm, 1pm, 6pm
Manchester: 1pm and 7pm
Performance times vary at the weekends see www.selfridges.com

MUSIC WEEK
13 - 17 MAY
Music Week sees the fusion of traditional and contemporary live acts from India. Shivamani, Bombay's acclaimed percussionist, will headline the week's music programme along with artists from the UK as diverse as DJ Boy George.

The line up also includes live sets from Kuljit Bhamra, a virtuoso tabla player, composer and record producer who will accompany DJ Sonia on a musical journey, Bollywood style, in the mix, with phat breakbeats, hip hop and jazz. Other influential British Asian DJ's such as the Punjabi Hit Squad will play exclusive sets alongside best selling British Asian singers Sangeeta and Shahin Bhadar.

Performances:
London: 12pm, 1pm, 1.30pm, 3pm, 6pm
Manchester: 1pm, 7pm
Performance times vary at the weekends see www.selfridges.com

COSTUME WEEK
20 - 26 MAY
Inspired costume events and fashion shows at Selfridges will celebrate the lavish styles of Bollywood fashion and design. Vamps, villains, heroes and heroines will all be represented. The events will showcase a variety of collections from Indian designers including a selection from the designer to the stars - Manish Malotra. Another coup for customers will be traditional displays by the Shringhar girls who will perform the traditional sixteen steps of Indian dressing.

RAJ AND PABLO'S BOLLYWOOD NIGHTS
THURSDAY NIGHTS
Raj and Pablo - two hot names from the London club scene will host three 'Bollywood Nights' talkback sessions. These will be chaired discussion groups on the themes of dance, music and costume. Dance legend and choreographer Gauri will host 'Dance Talkback'. Highlights of 'Music Talkback' will be talks by critically acclaimed Marius De Vires.
Talkback sessions:
London: 7pm-9pm
Venue: Premier Restaurant 3rd Floor.
For ticket bookings contact: 020 7318 3366

WRITTEN BY ROBEEL HAQ