When Bollywood came to Dubai..

Rain may have been a rare occurrence in this dessert region, but it was raining Bollywood stars couple of days back at Ras Al Khaimah near Dubai. Occasion: Launch of Khalis perfume hosted by Abdul Khaliq Barudgar (popularly known as Munna bhai) and his brother Bablu Aziz (film-maker and the youthful Juhu corporator from Mumbai).

Venue-The intoxicating, luscious and the widespread Iceland Water Park. First, there was 8-8 overs Bollywood cricket match in which Sunil Shetty, Irfan Khan, Bobby Deol, Malayalam super-star Mohanlal and Aftab Shivdasani et al participated. Then came the fashion-show where models who walked the ramp had one thing in common:they were carrying a bottle of Khalis perfume! Dance performances by Celina Jaitley, Neha Dhupia (she was absolutely brilliant), Mugdha Godse (watch out for her as a stage performer) and the biggest name of them all Mallika Sherawat.

Who said Mallika is finicky about lot of things and snobbish mostly?! More than her performance her attitude towards the audience was a rare but nice gesture as Mallika went on a clapping spree touching her hands with the audience who had by then gathered down the podium connecting the main stage! But the person who actually stole the show was singer Mikka and such was the magic of his live singing performance that it made the sitting audience coming on the open space infront of the podium and dance (and the number grew as he continued singing). Actress Mahima Chaudhary was a special guest and posed with the families among the guests.

The event did not have the trappings of the kind of hysteria that is created in most Bollywood functions. And that made the audience come so close to seeing Bollywood stars from a close angle. And the artistes were not complaining..!

May be in a box- Kiss kis ko..! Singer Mika who had actually shot into limelight with his tight lip kiss involving Rakhi Sawant seems to still get over from his kiss hangover. While taking a break from his first session of the performance while giving the mike the anchor he quipped,” Dear audience please give a jhappi and puppy (kiss) Mallika from my side’. And the audience burst into loud laughter..!