JULY CASTS BAD OMEN ON BOLLYWOOD FILMSTARS

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- In the Hindu calendar, 'Sharavan' is an
auspicious month falling in July-August, bestowing good omen.

Last month however, it failed to shower good fortune on some Bollywood
actors -- at least, to two popular actresses in the movie industry.

Last week, bad luck and controversy dogged former Miss World and current
leading actress Aishwarya Rai, and film star Shilpa Shetty.

Rai had to run for her life after an elephant hired for her latest movie,
'Ravana', went on a rampage and trampled the 'mahor' (caretaker) to death.

She was with her husband, Abhishek Bachan, and south Indian popular director
Mani Ratnam in Athirapally waterfalls in Kerala, when the jumbo named 'Kunju',
went berserk last Wednesday.

In the movie directed by Ratnam, Rai plays the leading role both in the
Hindi
and Tamil versions, while Bachan appears as the hero, only in the Hindi version.

According to media reports from Kerala, Rai, Bachan and Ratnam were trapped
in
the jungle for almost 10 hours, without food, trying to hide from
the aggressive 'Kunju'.

Forest workers came to their rescue later at night and found all unhurt.

But even before the elephant fiasco, Rai suffered measles, which delayed
shooting of the movie.

Veterinarians were called to tranquilise Kunju, which was later taken away
from the set.

But in the north, it was a totally different script for Shetty as she
accosted another 'divine controversy' while shooting a movie in the state of
Orissa.

On Thursday, irked temple authorities in Sakhigopal temple in Orissa lodged
a police complaint against the actress after she entered the shrine with armed
guards and cameramen with their shoes on.

Despite numerous warnings from temple officials, Shety, 34, was reported to
have breached the temple's rules by shooting inside the temple as well, but a
claim that she denied.

Angry officials lodged a police complaint for hurting religious sentiments
and investigations are underway.

For both actresses, who are strong believers in Hindu rituals, 'Sharavan',
which literally means 'listening' in Sanskrit, was not a magnanimous month.

It appears that the Gods failed to listen to them.

-- BERNAMA