Hema Ravikumar in Los Angeles

She is better known as Lagaan's Elizabeth, the English do-gooder, in India.

In real life, Rachel Shelley looks younger and more radiant than her screen persona.

She walks into the room of the hotel (where Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker are staying) with another journalist in tow. Will you be attending the Oscars ceremony with Aamir and Ashutosh, I ask. Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker are in Los Angeles on the eve of the 74th Annual Academy Awards, to be held at the 3,600-seater Kodak Theater. Oscar night is on March 24. Lagaan has been nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars.

Shelley regretfully reveals she will be watching the show on television -- the foreign film category only gets four tickets. She will go to the post-Oscar ceremony party, though.

Shelley is in Los Angeles to dip a toe and test the waters in Hollywood. What better a time to capitalise on schmoozing at Oscar time to which the industry who's who will flock?