Abu Dhabi seems to be the latest hotshot locations for Bollywood filmmakers as most of the big banners in recent times have begun shooting at its exotic and picturesque locales. Now Bollywood actors too have begun to form a bond with this oasis in the desert. The one leading the pack is Lara Dutta, who had not only shot for Partner but is also currently shooting for her upcoming David Dhawan film Do Knot Disturb.

Lara believes that Abu Dhabi is a lucky place for her. She tells us, "This place is like a lucky mascot. Many portions of my last movie Partner were shot here and the movie went out to become a super- duper hit.  It's a wonderful place and the people are very warm and it's quite a film-friendly place as well. We have been shooting at the Emirates Palace hotel and you just got to see the hotel to believe how wonderful it is I guess with the amount of films being shot here, Abu Dhabi has become the new Switzerland" says lara.  The film also stars Riteish Deshmukh, Sushmita Sen, Ranvir Shorey and Rajpal Yadav."

Lara is now looking forward to a very interesting 2008. Apart from Shah Rukh Khan's home production Billo Barber, Lara has Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai once again with Govinda. Then there is her Rs. 100 crore budgeted Blue which is an out and out action film starring Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt and finally Sudhir Mishra's Aur Devdas in which she plays Paro.

Lara adds, "Aur Devdas isn't really a period film. It's very literate and layered and I'd have to dig really deep into myself to play Paro. She is a dark, ambitious and self-destructive character" reveals Lara. Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai is an official Hindi adaptation of the Hollywood film My Cousin Vinny and am playing Marisa Tomei's role for which she won an Oscar." -(SAMPURN)