The London Palladium got a Bollywood makeover on Monday night, when Aishwarya Rai jetted into town for the premiere of her latest movie. Indian drummers and brightly-coloured exotic decorations greeted the stars as they arrived to see Bride And Prejudice make its world debut.
Among the first to grace the specially-prepared pink carpet was the film's leading lady, who was looking as stunning as ever in a green and blue Armani gown. "This is so exciting," she enthused. "I've had a wonderful welcome from the crowd out there. It's fantastic to be in London and I loved making this movie."
The new production is a modern reworking of Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice. It tells the story of a middle class family's efforts to find suitable husbands for its daughters. But unlike the original book, the new movie is an all-singing, all-dancing affair, set in London, Los Angeles and India.
Director Gurinder Chadha, who was also behind the hit Bend It Like Beckham, said she was confident even the author herself would have approved. "It's a very British Asian movie that incorporates India, England and America," she said. "It's very true to Jane Austen and the spirit of the book, and I think if she came down and went to see it in her local Odeon cinema, she would like it."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
