Bombay Dreams, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical set in India, has taken over �10m after six months in London's West End.

Producers are now planning to extend the show to last until October 2003.

The musical, which opened in June, celebrates its 200th performance at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on Wednesday.

More than 330,000 people have been to see the musical, which has proved hugely popular despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Parts of the show are to be used in the Royal Variety Show which will be shown on Sunday on BBC One.

A song from the production is released as asingle in February

It had to extend its run less than a month after starting because of the enormous demand for tickets.

The show was composed by Bollywood veteran AR Rahman while Goodness Gracious Me actress Meera Syal wrote the script.

Bombay Dreams tells the story of a Bollywood film director's daughter, played by 21-year-old Preeya Kalidas.

Her character falls in love with a boy from the slums, played by Raza Jaffrey, who has appeared in Abba musical Mamma Mia! and TV soap EastEnders.

A single from the production - Shakalaka Baby, sung by Preeya Kalidas - will be released in February.

Bollywood craze

Lloyd Webber shut down two of his long-running productions - Cats and Starlight Express - to make way for the Indian musical.

The production's dizzying success is in stark contrast to the general health of West End musicals.

Kiss Me Kate had to close in August because of falling ticket sales.

Lloyd Webber's musical success comes amidst a growing interest in Indian culture and Bollywood films in particular.

Colonial cricket drama Lagaan was nominated for best foreign film at the Oscars earlier in the year, and the film Monsoon Wedding has also received great interest.

Wales is meanwhile being touted as a location for several new Bollywood productions.