A Weybridge surgeon is about to direct and perform in the premiere of an Indian dance/drama alongside film legend Sharmila Tagore.

Dr Ananda Gupta, who is an ophthalmic surgeon with Royal Surrey Eye Services by day, runs the Federation for Indian Arts, a school for performing arts in his spare time.

He is helping organise the largest Bengali cultural festival ever staged in Britain, the P.C Chandra Ananda Utsav, which is taking place at Alexandra Palace from this Friday, March 19 to Sunday, March 21.

Sharmila, who starred in many films directed by the revered director Satyajit Ray, and her film star daughter Soha Ali Khan, are flying in from India to take part in Rabi o Radha which is being directed by Dr Gupta.

The piece explores the relationship between the gods Krishna and Radha, but also that between Kolkata’s most famous poet, Rabindranath Tagore, and his sister in law.

Dr Gupta who is an expert on Tagore, will also sing during the performance and what makes it particularly special is that Sharmila is herself related to the Nobel Prize winning poet.

Dr Gupta said it would also appeal to a non-Indian audience, both through the power of the dance and because much of the text is in English.

He said: “It really gives me immense pleasure to bring living Bollywood legends together with local artists in this colossal piece.”

The three day festival is a symbol of the growing confidence of wealthy Bengalis keen to celebrate their rich cultural heritage here in the UK.

A number of big names are being flown in to take part in the event, including India’s most famous magician PC Sorcar.

For full details of the festival go to londonanandautsav.com