Big in Bollywood

Hi from manic Mumbai

After Australia it's a bit of a culture shock wading into the seething mass of people thronging every street and the crazy drivers trying to outdo each other on the roads but its great fun. We've been staying at the Salvation army rest house and eating the most amazing curries and snacks- all lovely and spicy.

On Sunday we were shipped off with 30 other Westerners to Bollywood, to star in "Yuvraaj" after we were scouted wandering around looking lost. It was odd to see all the hippies shedding their fisherman's pants and tie die for suits and ball gowns but we all scrubbed up fairly well- especially Roz with her bright orange lipstick and croyden facelift- courtesy of the make up department (it was telling that all the real stars did there own!). None of the clothes we were given fitted but it did not seem to matter and we spent the whole day swaying and cheering along to Bollywood tracks while the stars pouted and gave cheesy grins to the camera. The whole affair was wonderfuly badly run especially when it turned out that they did not have enough dancers at one point and had to recruit some hippies and teach them a quick routine (girls only and Roz did not want to volunteer). The results were fairly hit and miss as waving your arms around to trance music on a beach and thinking you are dancing is less tricky than actually dancing. At the end we got paid 7 pounds for the day- possibly the lowest I have ever been paid for a days work!.

Anyhow- we've seen ads on TV and the posters on virtually every bus side. Amazingly the film is out on the 24th November so check it out at a cinema near you! Got some great photos which we'll put up when we find fast internet.