Rishi Budhrani and K.P. Sandhu bring three decades of friendship, ambition and showbiz adventures to Kalaa Utsavam 2026
What does it take for two Singaporean boys growing up in HDB flats, watching Shah Rukh Khan movies and dreaming of Bollywood stardom, to chase their ambitions all the way to Mumbai?
The answer promises plenty of laughter, nostalgia, romance and heartbreak in Bedok to Bollywood, one of the headline productions at this year’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts, presented by Esplanade.
Commissioned specially for the festival, the 75-minute interactive dramedy, created by Singaporean stand-up comedian Rishi Budhrani and performed alongside award-winning television and radio host K.P. Sandhu, will be staged at the Esplanade Recital Studio on Nov 27 and 28.
Drawing heavily from their real-life experiences, the production traces three decades of friendship and the unlikely dream of two Singaporean Indians hoping to make it big in Hindi cinema.
“The short answer is yes,” Budhrani told tabla! when asked whether they had genuinely attempted to break into Bollywood.
“A lot of this live show is inspired by true stories of hoping to break into Mumbai’s film industry, and how that shaped us, and our journey in showbiz.”
Naturally, audiences can expect generous doses of embellishment, dramatisation and humour.
The title has deeply personal roots. Rishi grew up in Bedok, where his fascination with Hindi films and music began.
“I grew up in Bedok, and one of my earliest memories of enjoying Hindi music or film was in my childhood home,” he recalled.
Interestingly, the production was originally conceived as a solo performance.
“I had initially thought about this as a solo show many years ago, but while writing it, I realised how big a part of this journey KP was and has been over the years,” he said.
The two, friends and collaborators for more than 20 years, decided to turn the idea into a theatrical experiment.
But the journey from Singapore’s heartlands to Bollywood’s glittering studios is hardly straightforward.
There are no industry godfathers, no examination guidebooks and certainly no SkillsFuture credits to help aspiring actors navigate Mumbai’s fiercely competitive entertainment industry.
“Sitting in our HDB flats dreaming of becoming superstars in Mumbai – this is a niche dream for a niche group of people, and it does not feature in any policy or systematic plans for the nation,” Rishi observed.
“It is not something your parents will encourage you to pursue, not without securing a degree first. But, does it mean we should not dream?”
Beyond the Bollywood fantasy, the production examines Singaporean Indian identity, family expectations and the importance of cultural roots.
The characters move between English, Hindi, Punjabi and Sindhi, reflecting the multilingual environment in which the performers grew up.
“To know where you’re going, it is crucial to know where you come from,” Rishi said.
Unlike conventional theatre, audiences will become participants in the unfolding story, with improvisation adding unpredictability to each performance.
Rishi, whose previous Kalaa Utsavam collaboration was Can I Make You A Suit, Mate?, is also experimenting with a more emotional theatrical style.
“All comedy is just tragedy + time,” he said. “If things go right, we should make the audience laugh and cry. If things don’t go right, you will see us crying and laughing backstage.”
For Rishi, who has performed internationally and hosted Singapore’s National Day Parade, and Sandhu, an experienced entertainer since 2008, the production offers an opportunity to showcase a different side of their longstanding partnership.
Ultimately, Bedok to Bollywood asks whether achieving stardom is really the destination, or whether daring to dream is itself the greater triumph.
Bedok to Bollywood runs on Nov 27 and 28 at 8pm at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Tickets start at S$50 through SISTIC.
