They are picture perfect and they are all trying to fit into the Bollywood frame. Foreign beauties are enjoying a popular spell in Hindi films and also on TV now. Katrina Kaif started an epoch of foreign imports in Bollywood. The half Kashmiri half British glam queen has ruled audience fantasy for a decade now and her phenomenal rise soon saw filmmakers go hunting for other exotic beauties.
Almost every new girl with a foreign connect is invariably compared to Katrina in terms of look, body language and sex appeal, the latest being Elena Kazan and Elli Avram. While the new lot also includes Lauren Gottlieb, Hazel Keech, Kristina Akheeva and Evelyn Sharma, the likes of Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Bruna Abdullah, Barbara Mori and Claudia Ciesla, who came in a while back, have seen mixed luck.Learning Hindi is the biggest hurdle. The first things all these girls do is get a coach for language and accent. However, as has been evident with Katrina, an outsider may learn the language technically but she could still be struggling to get the expressions right.
Knowledge of Hindi, though, has never been a hurdle in Bollywood. Long before the foreign influx, talented heroines like Sridevi and Jaya Pradha were regularly dubbed because they were uncomfortable with Hindi.
When Katrina Kaif made her debut with the 2003 dud Boom as the film's third heroine after Madhu Sapre and Padma Lakshmi, not many imagined the superstardom she'd achieve in 10 years.
Mentored by rumoured ex-boyfriend Salman Khan initially, Katrina primarily clicked for two reasons. First, she redefined Bollywood glamour with her half-Kashmiri, half-British appeal. And despite being a stranger to Hindi films initially and not knowing the language, she was quick to grasp what works. Her impressive success rate prove as much. Another aspect, she realised mastering would help, was dance.
Coming up are Dhoom 3, Bang Bang, Fitoor, Kabir Khan's next, and Jagga Jasoos next with Ranbir Kapoor. Hazel shot to fame playing Kareena Kapoor's best friend in Bodyguard but hasn't had much luck since then. The UK-bred aspirant did some dance numbers in regional films besides the Aa ante Amalapuram item in Maximum. Like Katrina initially, Hazel has been mentored by Salman Khan. Current project: Hazel returns to limelight as a contestant on Bigg Boss 7. So far: After Bodyguard, she shifted base to southern films. She did a cameo in the Tamil hit Billa before trying to return to Bollywood with her Maximum item number.
Lauren Gottlieb
Lauren was already a celebrity in the US before coming to Bollywood. She became a star on the popular reality dance show, So You Think You Can Dance.
Current project: She is busy with rampwalking jobs at fashion shows.
So far: She acted in ABCD: Any Body Can Dance. Her stint on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa has made her a star.
Elli Avram
Elli is Greece-bred and has inherited the acting bug from her mother, noted actress Maria Granlund. She makes her debut on the silver screen in October with Mickey Virus opposite Manish Paul.
Current project: Elli is busy wrapping up her Bollywood debut film Mickey Virus, scheduled to open next month and is making waves as a participant on Bigg Boss season 7.
So far: Elli struggled in Bollywood briefly and did the rounds of the studios auditioning for roles. She has finally managed to bag a starring role in Mickey Virus, which marks the film debut of television star Manish Paul. While the film is set to release in October, Elli is currently enjoying her stint on Bigg Boss 7.
Evelyn Sharma
Half-Indian, half-German Evelyn started off with small-time modelling assignments and music videos.
Current project: Evelyn has an interesting role in Yaariyaan, the directorial debut of Bhushan Kumar's wife Divya Kumar.
So far: Although her debut act in From Sydney With Love went unnoticed, Evelyn shot to fame earlier this year with an interesting role as a vacuous PYT in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. She also had strong supporting roles in Nautanki Saala and Issaq.
Elena Kazan
Russian model Elena started out with a Bengali film, Clerk, in 2010. A cameo in Agent Vinod went unnoticed.
Current project: Elena is awaiting the release of Prague, a horror flick co-starring Chandan Roy Sanyal.
So far: Elena starred opposite Randeep Hooda in John Day, a revenge thriller starring Naseeruddin Shah. Not much came of it since the film tanked.
Kristina Akheeva
Russian beauty Kristina has done several modelling projects in the past and was finally noticed by the Deols who gave her a break earlier this year.
Current project: Kristina is right now focussing on modelling. She has been busy rampwalking at sundry fashion shows even as she awaits her next Bollywood offer.
So far: She made her debut as a heroine in Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, starring Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. She is also the ambassador for a jewellery brand.
Story so farNargis Fakhri
Half-Czech, half-Pakistani Nargis had a dream launch in Rockstar opposite Ranbir Kapoor. The film didn't benefit her but she made an impact with Madras Cafe. She did the Dhating naach item number in Phata Poster Nikhla Hero and Akshay Kumar has given her a three-film deal.
Bruna Abdullah
Brazilian ex-model Bruna has been around since 2007 doing item numbers. She featured in Grand Masti and has a role in Salman Khan's Mental.
Barbara Mori
The Uruguayan-Mexican ex-model was launched opposite Hrithik Roshan in Kites. Despite hype, the film bombed and she disappeared from the scene.
Jacqueline Fernandez
Ex-Miss Sri Lanka Universe Jacqueline has had a steady run. Despite her flop Aladin, she created a bang with Murder 2 and Race 2. She will be seen in Salman Khan's Kick and with Arjun Rampal in Roy, that has Ranbir Kapoor in a CLAUDIA cameo.
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