Which Cinderella's foot will the Bond shoe fit?

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Fairy tales were so blissfully simple. All with the ''together forever, happily after'' endings.<br /><br />They had only one hero (a prince mainly; and not ''the artist formerly known as Prince, thank God); one heroine (the anti-racist brigade hates them for always being ''fair n lovely''); and only one villain (a fire-breathing dragon or a poison apple pushing witchy momma mainly).<br /><br />The stories had eternal love as a central theme; amazing locations that would be the envy of Yash Chopra; a brief separation, a fight to the finish (minus any blood or slaying) and the meeting of the lovers, sealed with a kiss (no sex please, we''ve only a PG-13 rating).<br /><br />Believe me, the Cinderella and Snow White stories always worked. Bringing a tear to many a reader''s eye, as the fairy tale touched a chord with old and young alike.<br /><br />But is it that simple in real life? Naaa...! Not by a long shot, or a short one either.<br /><br />In real life, there are many Cinderellas, many Snow Whites, many aspiring heroes and far too many villains masquerading as ''good guys''. No wonder the fairy tale ain''t so simple any more. It has now, as our <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">filmis</span> would say, a ''<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">kahani mein twist</span>?'' <br /><br />And as the fairy tales (read: movies) became more complicated, the plots thicken. Especially with the stakes higher, and the slipper (a tighter fit no doubt) now made of diamonds instead of glass.<br /><br />So when the casting agents for the next mega James Bond flick cast their eyes India-wards, on our lovely damsels (Bombshells of Mass Destruction - Mr Bush, you listening?) we had several pretty toes jostling to get a ''toe-hold'' in the Bond shoe window suddenly. <br /><br />Aishwarya Rai was the front runner in the ''foot-race''. Leading by a pretty ankle, no ''cast'' about to slow her down.<br />Preity followed, her dimples matching those of Denise Richards (a Bond babe).<br />Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra were the ''hot bods'' who could give any ''Charlie''s Angels'' a run for their haloes, with their honed and toned symmetry.<br /><br />So who was it gonna be?<br /><br />Of course, reports and counter reports flew about fast and furious, about who was approached and who wasn''t. Who was going to be Ms. 007, posing behind Pierce in his Reid & Taylor and his Walther PPK (or is it a Smith & Wesson .32?). <br />At first were the reports of Ash being approached. Then followed the news report of the other four girls being in the race as well. This was immediately denied by the casting agency, which insisted that Ms Rai was the only one under consideration. And then ... kaaboom... yet another statement from the Bond stables, denying that anyone at all even being considered at this point, when not even a complete story, script or gimmick was in place.<br />But honestly, it did trigger a thought.<br /> <br />If two out of this slew of gorgeous women were Ms.World pageant winners; and one a former Ms. Universe. With yet another being a dusky model-turned-sultry-actress and the fifth being a dimpled darling of popular cinema, then why could they not be in a Bond flick?<br /><br />After all, Indian authors had stamped their penmanship across the world, even won Bookers and Pulitzers for it. Indian scientists and littérateurs had won Nobels. Indian sportsmen were world (almost) champions in plenty of sports. Indian music is the world anthem today. Indian doctors, software engineers, journos and professionals are the best of the best, any part of the world. And India is the new economy that the world is looking to, for a boost in fortunes. So, it would be a logical step that an Indian gal was next on Hollywood center-stage.<br /><br />Take Preity Zinta for example. She''s already done the desi version of an Ian Fleming imagination. ''The Hero'' is currently running to packed houses, wherein Sunny Deol plays a savior with savoir faire, saving the world a la James. With only one lass on his side. Not much different from Pierce, Sean or Roger, eh?<br />And like I said, with her dimples and her petite frame, she is much like Denise Richards. A suitable dimple.<br /><br />Halle Berry repeated the ''Venus rising from the sea'' act of Ursula Andress (and earlier lady Bond), but it was our Bipasha who matched her, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">jism</span> for <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">jism</span> in her ''body'' drama thriller of the same name. And Bips was more a full-bodied diva than Halle or Ursula could dare to ''undress''.<br /><br />Which brings me to Lara, of the international name and the Indian surname, Dutta. She is one lass who has the International appeal and the class and breeding of any Hollywood diva. And, well, she will look great coming out of the sea, jumping off a ski slope or even avoiding bullets while escaping from a speedboat onto a helicopter, via rope ladder - not a wet strand out of place.<br /><br />Priyanka, of the dusky looks galore, would match as Pierce ''Bosswoman'' too. It would lend that touch of exotica to Bond''s erotica alright. <br /><br />And then there is Aishwarya. Aaah, Aishwarya! Without pride, without prejudice, she does seem to be the front runner in the race to live and let die. With the classic cheekbones of Britt Ekland, the innocent beauty of Jane Seymour and the arrogance of Barbara Bach, Ash has what it takes to be on the posters of 007 for posterity. <br /><br />She looks Indian yes, but then in all probability, she will be playing an Indian beauty. Not to take away from her demure Indian-ness and her ''under cover'' sex appeal (sex appeal equals more means less), it is doubtful she will emerge in Poseidon''s froth in Aphrodital splendour. And if she does, it will probably be in an Amrapali sari or a Gottex sarong, in all modesty. But that, I''m quite sure, will be more appealing to a world over exposed (pardon the pun) to body talking. <br /><br />Maybe a harkening back to the days of yore when a revealed ankle was an exciting enough sight to the male libido. And so what if it''s an injured ankle this time? <br />As long as the ''shoe'' fits.<br /><br />For the Bond shoe is a diamond slipper after all. Right all ye ''ho-ho-ho-sevens''?</div> </div>