With Bollywood catching mainstream Britons' fancy, an agency here is undertaking to fly aspiring actors to Mumbai to get trained by the same gurus who have taught stars like Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor.

London-based Asian Talent Agency is organizing a four-month intensive programme this October at The India International Academy of Performing Arts (IIAPA) in Mumbai to meet the growing interest in Britain for Bollywood productions.

"Over the last few years Bollywood has grown in mainstream markets and film industries are merging. There is now a greater integration of Asian and Western actors in world cinema," said Jazz Barton, director of Asian Talent Agency.

"As casting directors we regularly cast for Bollywood productions. This course is designed perfectly to meet the demands of the industry and of the actors wishing to gain outstanding training in this field."

The faculty will include Harish Magon, who has over 30 years' experience in acting and has trained some of the big names in the Hindi film industry such as Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt, the agency said.

Other course teachers include, Reshma Khan who choreographed Oscar-nominated film Lagaan and Kamal Nath who has choreographed over 100 films and 700 stage productions, the agency added.

Students will be taught on subjects covering acting, dance, spoken Hindi, health and fitness as well as the chance to learn other skills like martial arts or horse riding.

They will also learn stunts and action, which is one of the most visually exciting parts of a film that will be taught by fight master Jaswant Singh who has over 28 years experience.

Asian Talent Agency are holding auditions here in August, where students will be asked to prepare dance and acting pieces. The panel of judges will include Bollywood actors and course teachers.