Shenaz’s growing cast of extras

IT is every woman’s dream to feature in a film or soap alongside her favourite star.

And it is certainly the case for local TV extra and casting agent, Shenaz Khan.

The 37-year-old boss of Oldham company Niche Casting, has appeared as an extra in “Coronation Street”, “Blue Murder”, and the latest Bollywood movie “Bhatti on Chutti” (Mr Bhatti on Holiday), which features Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachan.

During her time on the set she has also rubbed shoulders with Bollywood stars including Govinda, Shakti Kapoor, Anupam Kher, and Kabir Bedi, who appeared in the James Bond film “Octopussy” and “Lawrence of Arabia”.

The mother-of-four, spent eight years working as an independent film-maker and got many requests to help people get roles.

She then set up Niche from her home in Wardleworth, Rochdale, and later moved to her new offices in Oldham’s Enterprise Factory, in Hathershaw.

But it was her determination and passion for TV and films that led her to make her dream a reality.

And acting runs in the family — Shenaz’s 13-year-old son, Junaid, appeared in a Vauxhall Zafira advert.

She explained: “I did training in film making in Manchester after showing a number of production teams how passionate and persistent I was about making it to the top. I was quite lucky because I was given a chance.

“To start with, I wanted to work as a TV extra to get a feel of what it was like. Now I sign people up from all communities and of all ages who want to make it in TV.”

Shenaz has a large portfolio of local young people who have appeared as extras in TV soaps and Bollywood movies filmed in the UK.

She has not only given young people a chance to see their dreams come to true but has stopped them from hanging around the streets.

Shenaz, who won the New Business Start-up of the Year Award 2007, said: “It feels so good to get young people off the streets and give them a dream job to do.

“Many of them have thanked me for it and have admitted that had they not been given such an opportunity they would have ended up on the wrong road.”

“I have between 200 to 300 extras but I’m looking for more. Around 90 per cent of these have appeared in programmes.

“I am looking for committed individuals with a lot of patience and with time on their hands as there’s a lot of hanging around.

“I am also looking at setting up drama classes and a modelling agency because there’s a lot of talent out there.

“So if anyone is interested in TV or film get in touch, who knows where it will lead you.”

Budding actors are invited to call Shenaz on 0161-622 2932.