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Stephen Harper on Bollywood stage

First Stephen Harper got by with a little help from the Beatles.Now the prime minister is cashing in on a little Bollywood cachet.
Stephen Harper
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper watches dancers as he appears on Dance Premier League

MUMBAI, India — First Stephen Harper got by with a little help from the Beatles.

Now the prime minister is cashing in on a little Bollywood cachet.

Harper and his wife Laureen visited the set of Dance Premier League before leaving Mumbai on Monday, where they were treated to a rollicking mujra-inspired Bollywood dance number.

With the segment set to air on the wildly popular Indian “reality” contest show, Harper may have topped his recent appearance singing a Beatles song at the National Arts Cente in Ottawa.

But it was a political performance fraught with peril.

The prime minister failed to see a step during his introduction and almost tumbled as he walked on to the stage in the elaborately lit and thunderously loud television theatre.

After sitting through most other performances, Harper eventually joined the ensemble on stage again for the finale, clapping along as traditionally clad performers danced around him.

He then offered them “a sixer” — a perfect score.

The bust-a-gut photo-op in India had some Canadian connections.

One of the show’s top judges is Indo-Canadian choreographer Shiamak Davar, who has dance schools in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

And four of the eight dancers were also Indo-Canadians.