Bollywood comes to Bedford

Bollywood came to Bedford on Tuesday as some of its biggest names shot a number of scenes for a new blockbuster movie.

Screaming fans gathered in Harpur Square to watch well-known stars Govinda, Shakti Kapoor, Bhupi and Ameet Chana during recording for a new comedy inspired by the 2005 Hollywood flick The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

The cast recorded an all-singing, all-dancing scene in the town centre before being followed by hordes of enthusiasts to Chapel 29 nightclub in Mill Street to continue filming.

Director Jag Mundhra, a veteran of 32 movies, said: "We have some really big world-famous stars in this movie performing here today.

"The movie is loosely based on The 40-Year-Old Virgin, or at least the lead character is certainly based on the film's lead male."

Some lucky Bedfordians were even drafted in as extras for the scenes.

Mr Mundhra said: "We decided to shoot in Bedford because we wanted a location where we could firstly shoot in front of some impressive traditional looking buildings, like in Harpur Square, and could then move to somewhere nearby to shoot the club scene, for which we needed a venue of an appropriate size like Chapel 29.

"Plus, in London there are a lot of restrictions on when you can shoot in the street so we came to Bedford."

The stars were on hand to sign autographs and pose for photographs throughout the day before leaving town and heading to Soho to continue recording.

Bollywood comedy fans will have to wait until next year for the film's release, but can see Mr Mundhra's latest political thriller Shoot On Sight, starring Brian Cox and Sadie Frost, when it is released in cinemas at the end of this month.