The feat not only speaks volumes of the show’s global popularity but also reveals why Furtado decided to take a break from all the glitz, glamour, song, dance and romance of it in 2011.
‘I had been travelling for six and a half years and the road had turned into my life, always living out of a suitcase,’ she said, speaking with the sounds of Mumbai in the background.
‘Doing eight shows a week, I just got to the point where I needed to stop for awhile and now I’m so happy to be back just in time to come to Perth.’
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READ NOWFurtado, who is Indian -born of Portuguese descent, said the theatrical spectacular presented India in a nutshell, introducing its culture, rhythms and sounds while at the same time delving into the history of Bollywood and Indian cinema.
‘It’s the age-old tale of the new taking away from the old, which is a theme everyone relates to,’ she said.
‘My parents struggled with my career path because no matter how much we modernise and evolve as a culture, there are certain aspects that conflict with their beliefs.
‘Now things have changed with them and they have accepted it but initially dancing was not seen to be a career to aspire to.’
In fact, it was while at college studying for her degree in Sociology that Furtado was ‘discovered’ by a choreographer at a local club and she started performing professionally to help with living expenses.
‘I was just doing shows locally but when it came to having to travel out of the city, I had to get the choreographer to meet with my parents to convince them that their daughter was in safe hands,’ she said.
‘I went from doing national shows to international shows, travelling abroad, and then there was just no stopping me.
‘I love to dance, even though I am almost short of a heart attack by the end of the show.’
The essentials:WHAT:The Merchants of BollywoodWHERE: Regal TheatreWHEN: October 22 to November 1TICKETS: www.ticketek.com.au