Mumbai Terror Fails to Deter These Damsels

MUMBAI: The common man in Mumbai may be reeling under the effects of 26/ 11, but foreign actresses set to work in various Bollywood projects seem to show no signs of fear. Filmmakers are all set to welcome a bevy of exotic beauties for different film assignments over the next few weeks.

To begin with, Miss Universe UK 2008 Lisa Lazarus has already hit the headlines on Wednesday when she defied the pervading mood of fear and arrived to shoot for the Salman Khan- starrer, Veer. And now, Mexican beauty Barbara Mori is geared up to "arrive as per schedule in the first week of January" to work in the Hrithik Roshanstarrer Kites, revealed the film's director Anurag Basu.

Hollywood hottie Carmen Electra hits Mumbai shores next. The sultry beauty will arrive in the city soon to shoot with Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor for the Sajid Nadiadwala- produced Kambakht Ishq . "The arrival of these foreign girls in Mumbai sends out a positive signal to the world. Leave alone Barbara's arrival, I was worried that the foreign extras based in Mumbai who work in our films would leave the city after the terror strikes. I am surprised that they haven't," Basu said.

On Electra's arrival, Kareena confirmed: "I'll be shooting for a music video with Carmen Electra and Akshay for Kambakht Ishq." "Since India and especially Mumbai is still struggling to bounce back, the arrival of these girls should work as a tonic because it proves that if they can come to work here, why can't we continue with our lives? It also quashes reports that our country is a dangerous place to visit," said filmmaker Anees Bazmee, whose last blockbuster Singh Is Kinng featured international rapper Snoop Dogg.

While on Lisa, the beauty queen reportedly agreed to touch down in Mumbai only after Veer producer Vijay Galani hired five bouncers to exclusively protect her. What's interesting is that Galani might end up spending almost Rs 2 lakh ( Rs 16,000- 18,000 per day) on these bouncers since Lisa is expected to stay in India for around 15 days to wrap up her portions in the Anil Sharma- directed film.

For those who came in late, Lisa is one of the heroines in Veer.

She plays a girl from the UK who falls in love with Salman's character when she comes to India with her father. The film also marks the debut of Zarine Khan, who has been creating waves for being a lookalike of Salman's girlfriend Katrina Kaif.

With Lisa's entry in Veer, Salman's fetish for foreign girls has only gained strength. Not long ago, it was reported that Bollywood's Pocket Hercules was promoting Channel V's hot new Brazilian import, veejay Bruna Abdalah.

Katrina is also half British. In the past, Sallu has romanced Pakistani actress Somy Ali. His affair with her made headlines in early nineties. In fact, Salman went out of his way to help Somy gain a foothold in Bollywood.

Then there is Katrina, of course, who first made it to the A- list thanks to Salman's home production flicks such as Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya and Partner.

Katrina is now among the highest- paid actresses in B- town, having struck multi- film deals with Studio 18 and UTV. Veer, Salman's self- scripted dream project, has been in the news for various reasons including the fact that the film was put on hold due to the economic recession shortly after it was announced. Now, it's making headlines due to an extensive plan to recreate London as the city looked around the year 1900.

"We are currently looking into everything to replicate the landscape, building and costumes that existed from 1890 to 1900 in London. This requires extensive research. We will shoot in London after constructing the sets there," said Anil Sharma, the film's director.

Meanwhile, designer Ana Singh is designing costumes for the film to give Salman a completely periodic makeover. "He will look like someone who used to walk on the streets in London in 1890," added Sharma.



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