YOU know that Indian bars have taken off when a seasoned nightclub operator like Mr Mohan Mulani has seen it fit to invest in one such club.

His modern Indian bar in Clarke Quay, called The Rupee Room, opened in May this year.

Such venues have become popular because of an influx of Indian expatriates here and Singaporeans' willingness to try out a new concept that carries a whiff of glamorous Bollywood.

Mr Mulani, whose Harry's nightspots are familiar to many revellers, has seen The Rupee Room attracting between 1,500 and 2,000 patrons weekly.

There are now 14 Bollywood bars on the island, with the upmarket ones set up in places like Orchard Road and Clarke Quay in the last three years.

In contrast, mass-market Indian nightspots have existed in areas like Serangoon for at least five years.

The allure of the newer, posher clubs is clear. The food, music and decor are distinctively different from what you get at KTV pubs, Western-style bars or big nightspots.

A mesh of Bollywood hits and bhangra music played by DJs, and occasionally a band, entertain you as you tuck into spicy Indian tapas, kebabs or tandoori washed down with Indian-recipe mocktails or beer.

Some of these places even feature slinky belly-dancers showing off their sexy moves.

'Bollywood produces about 950 movies a year, just second to Hollywood, so it definitely has a very strong influence. Since last year, my business has gone up by about 35 per cent,' says Mr Andy Ashok, owner of Khazana in Boat Quay.

According to him, his club, which opened in 1994, was the first north Indian bar to open here.

Mr Mulani, chief executive of Harry's Holdings, notes: 'Bollywood movies have had a lot of influence and even non-Indian expats and locals are becoming more interested in Indian food and music now.'

That has meant better takings for Mr Pankaj Tandon, managing director of Shi Sha - Lounge Bar in Clarke Quay.

'The business in August this year was relatively better than the same period last year,' he says, though he declines to reveal figures.

The India-based holding company of Shi Sha is PDK Shenaz Hotels which has six years of experience operating Ivory India, a 25,000 sq ft restaurant bar and lounge in Kolkatta.

Mr Tandon says the company based its first overseas outlet here because 'more Indians are travelling and working abroad now, and Singapore is the No. 2 spot for Indians in Mumbai to go to'.

Mr Mulani adds: 'This is in line with Singapore becoming more cosmopolitan. The demographics have changed - there are more Indians here. Five years ago, such clubs would have been ahead of their time.'

Mr Ashok notes that more Indians, especially those in the IT industry, are setting up operations here.

Bar operators say non-Indian expatriates and locals are latching on to bhangra beats too and may account for up to 45 per cent of customers.

'There are lots of Japanese, Korean and Caucasian expats in my club,' says Mrs Puran Kaur, owner of Moshi Moshi Bollywood, a fusion Indian lounge and disco that opened in Cuppage Plaza eight months ago.

Some Singaporeans, like 40-year-old Jason Tan who frequents The Rupee Room, are converts.

'Although I don't know what it means, the music is quite fun. I think it's better than going to discos,' says the engineer with a laugh.

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