Bollywood dream factory in Mumbai nurtures slum dweller’s hopes of a future in film

For 35 years Baburao Ladsaheb has run acting classes in Dharavi, one of Asia’s biggest slums, and trained over 15,000 students searching for stardom

Thirty of his pupils featured in Danny Boyle’s 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, putting his school on the radar of casting directors

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Acting teacher Baburao Ladsaheb performs for his students during a class at the ‘Five Star Acting Dancing Fighting Classes’ in Dharavi, Mumbai, one of India and Asia’s biggest slums. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:15pm, 20 Sep 2019Updated: 2:15pm, 20 Sep 2019

In a windowless attic in Dharavi in Mumbai, one of Asia’s biggest slums, some are looking to become a Bollywood star – or at least get a bit part.

It is in this studio, accessible via a narrow ladder and rope, that larger-than-life Baburao Ladsaheb offers what a hand-painted sign calls “Five Star Acting Dancing Fighting Classes”.

“I’ve been running these classes for 35 years and have trained over 15,000 students,” says Ladsaheb, taking a break from classes where he blows a whistle as his pupils learn the steps to famous Bollywood dances.

The school is yet to produce the next Aamir Khan – number four on the Forbes list of the world’s best-paid actors – but he believes he has some potential stars in the making. In any case Ladsaheb, who once made his own movie which he wrote, directed and played all 12 roles, generally has more modest aims for his pupils.

These include small acting or dancing roles, and film set jobs – as well as stunt work and extras for dance sequences, a Bollywood staple.