There was a time when Bollywood stars turned up on sets, were given their lines and performed them first time in front of the rolling cameras. Rehearsals were reserved for the dancing, where choreographers would demonstrate how to heave that chest to the beat. Tabasam Haseen prepares us for a rehearsal reality check.

Actors can shoot several movies simultaneously so a films schedule is built around the availability of a star. The industry churns out so many films that stars spent most of their time swinging their hips from one set to another.

The demands on time are so great that current Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai shocked Hollywood insiders when she told them that because she had so many work commitments, she would only be free to shoot a new movie after 18 months.

Top stars are usually so busy that any form of role preparation is often seen as time wasting acting luviness. There's even a school of thought that argues that rehearsals can ruin creative spontaneity, a view shared by Bollywood's biggest star Amitabh Bachchan.

Although the demand on the big stars is so great that rehearsals are practically impossible, it's a different kettle of fish for new performers, who might be expected to attend acting workshops and rehearsals before shooting begins.

One famous director demanded that the new actors in his film attend rehearsals for six months before shooting began! This new thinking, combined with the fact that Bollywood output has declined over the past few years means that upcoming actors can expect to be asked to attend some form of training.

So how does one prepare for a role in Bollywood? What should a new performer concentrate on when entering this new industry? "A student can make a career in Bollywood if he is well aware of the industry and the way it works," says Executive Director of the Asian Academy of Film & TV, Akshay Marwah.

He recommends short courses where performers can become familiar with the camera. As Hindi film producers are very nervous about risking money on new performers, Marwah advises actors to do some theatre work to enhance their acting skills, arguing "it is not necessary to do theatre but it can be helpful."

Ultimately, it's all about dedication and putting the time and commitment in, for that all important all-singing, all-dancing, all-fighting role. "People need to devote their full time to things like yoga for concentration, film fight lessons, dance classes and voice modulation classes," says Marwah.

Image from Bollywood, Yet Another Love Story, courtesy of RIFCO Theatre Company.

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