Stars from British television and Indian cinema are heading the cast of a ‘Bollywood opera’ to be performed in Bradford’s City Park.

Strictly Come Dancing star Chelsee Healey and Bradford actress Rachel Leskovac are among the cast of Bollywood Carmen, a twist on Bizet’s opera, which will be broadcast live on BBC Three.

The show, celebrating the centenary of Indian cinema, will include ‘mass community involvement’, and auditions have been held for local people to take part.

Leading the cast, as Karmen, is Preeya Kalidas who played Amira Masood in EastEnders and was in West End show Bombay Dreams and the film Four Lions, accompanied by Indian film star Abhay Deol, of legendary Bollywood acting dynasty the Deol family.

Appearing as Karmen’s friends are Chelsee Healey, who played Janeece Bryant in Waterloo Road and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, and Rachel Leskovac, who played serial killer nurse Kelly Yorke in Holby City and unlucky-in-love hairdresser Natasha Blakeman in Coronation Street.

Rachel, who plays a character called Kylie in Bollywood Carmen, said: “I’m really excited and feel very proud to be working in Bradford and hopefully I might see some familiar faces in the crowds dancing away. This is going to be a one-off experience and us Yorkshire folk like a good party.”

The line-up also includes former Emmerdale actor Stephen Rahman-Hughes, Holby City actor Rakhee Thakrar and Bollywood star Sofia Hayat.

Sixty per cent of tickets for the free one-hour live event, taking place on Sunday, June 9, will go to Bradford postcodes, with the rest going elsewhere in the UK.

The Bollywood-inspired choreography will be accompanied by musical commissions and pop song ‘mash-ups’ by Bhangra pioneer and composer Kuljit Bhamra.

Zai Bennett, Controller of BBC Three, said: “Bollywood Carmen is a unique and extremely ambitious live arts event for BBC Three. I'm delighted we have attracted such a high calibre cast and production team to bring it to life.”

* Tickets are available at bbc.co.uk.