Touch of Bollywood in run-up to UK polls

The run-up to the election in the United Kingdom next week has a Bollywood touch.

Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil is campaigning for former minister of Indian origin Keith Vaz.

Vaz is seeking re-election from the Leicester East constituency on a Labour ticket.

Tahil, who became famous in Britain for his role in the successful musical Bombay Dreams, said he is impressed by the way Asians have settled down and are being 'allowed to practise their religion with total freedom'.

He praised Britain for creating almost a model society where even those who came as refugees have flourished.

Tahil was once nearly deported because the Home Office said the work permit he used while working in Bombay Dreams was not valid to work in EastEnders.

In EastEnders, Tahil is cast by the BBC as Dan Farreira, the head of a dysfunctional Goan family.

But recently, the Home Office regularised his work permit and apologised for the inconvenience caused to him.

Vaz, one of the member of Parliament who took up Tahil's case, has represented the Leicester East since 1987.

Asians constitute 49 per cent of the 67,000 electorate in the constituency and Vaz's majority was 13,442 in 2001.