Bollywood West

 If you’re an aspiring Aishwarya Rai or Abhishek Bachchan, look no further.

The Canadian Institute of Management and Technology recently began offering a Diploma in Bollywood Acting. Students must audition for the 16-week program, which costs $9,000 for Canadians and $13,000 for international students.

“Bollywood acting is colourful and loud,” said program director Lucky Sanda. “There is always a reason to dance and have a party.”

The first group of students, ranging in age from 18 to 48, graduated from the program at the end of February. The college’s Executive Vice President, Kamaljit Bal, said there is demand in Toronto from production companies who want South Asian actors to reflect a changing population.

“We have been receiving a lot of calls from production companies and advertising companies who see the South Asian market and are looking for actors and models to obtain a South Asian look and feel,” said Bal.

The South Asian population is the most visible minority group in the greater Toronto area, which has a population of 5.5 million people.

The Canadian Institute of Management and Technology’s Bollywood program was the subject of a recent Reuters article, which snagged headlines in newspapers across Canada – from the Toronto Star to the Victoria Times-Colonist. The item also received coverage south of the border – in USA Today and the New York Times.

“We are getting a lot of interest from South Asians and people who are not South Asian as well,” said Bal. “Bollywood is a big industry. Canada is a preferred destination for shooting so there are always companies looking for actors. In India, 70 per cent of movies have over-seas content.”