ASH'S GLOBAL CONQUEST CONTINUES: AFTER AMSTERDAM, IT'S RUSSIA

Aishwarya Rai’s global conquests continue unabated, irrespective of doubting Cassandra’s crying themselves hoarse back home. When not doing films or launching prestigious film festivals, the actress is having flowers re-christened after her. While in Amsterdam as part of the prestigious IIFA awards celebrations, the Dutch government honoured the international beauty by naming a tulip after Rai, in Europe’s most famous city of tulips. And while the actress’ foreign productions await release, Ash is currently savouring every moment of her image build-up in the Western media. After making it to the ninth position amongst an A-list of global beauties led by Angelina Jolie, and finding a place in Time magazine’s list of influential global culteratti, the former Miss World was recently featured on the cover of a Russian magazine, TV Park. The magazine featured a four-page write-up on her titled ‘The Woman Without Prejudices.’ Apparently, Russian housewives and young working women consider her to be the ‘Beauty No. 1.’ Well, let’s wait and watch, whether she matches the fan following of the original Bollywood showman and all time Russian favourite Raj Kapoor in the Soviet land!

BOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES TURN INVESTORS

Guess who’s the latest to be bitten by the investment bug? Bollywood’s actresses suddenly seem to have picked up a tip or two into making wise investments. Mahima Chaudhary has invested in a property in the upmarket Lokhandwala area of Mumbai, with an architect in tow doing up the place, for that exclusive personal touch. Incidentally, the actress who’s been picking knick-knacks from all over the globe cannot wait to do up her house with them. And while on collecting items for doing up the interiors, actress Sameera Reddy apparently has invested some amount in bringing to her home an M.F. Husain painting. She bought the painter’s famous canvas titled Mother Teresa, hoping it will secure her future. The other easier, and apparently first option however still remains netting a loaded boyfriend, of course!

A GOOD ACT RETURNED, LOVINGLY!

Talking of ‘dedicated’ lovers, one pair that’s taking togetherness pretty seriously is that of John Abraham and Bipasha Basu. Recently, when Bips made up her mind for a dip in a pool to drive the summer heat away,John kept sending her telephonic messages, guiding the water baby to a truly rejuvenating dip. Bips soon returned the favour when John came down with food poisoning on the sets of ‘Garam Masala,’ when the bindas Bong babe rushed up to his side in a flash. With an oomphy Florence Nightingale like this, who needs to get out of bed, John?

KAREENA-SHAAHID TO DANCE AGAIN

And while on stars on trips abroad, actress Kareena Kapoor too is currently on an extended holiday abroad. Albeit it’s far from anything professional —she’s playing the perfect aunt to elder sister Karishma’s baby, at Bangkok.One can ever hear the indulgent aunt ruing, “I am spending more money than I am earning.” But those worries can be put on back burner as from here; the next stop is a star show, with checks and tabs already taken care of. However, the best part of the deal is having to shake a leg on stage with beau Shaahid Kapoor. Some ladies do have all the luck in the world to have the man of their dreams not only dance to their tunes, but with them too!