Bollywood @ $100 a day

If you're a tourist planning to visit Mumbai, do put down a meeting with film stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee in your diary.

"Lights, action, camera!" may soon become a part of the tourist's itinerary, thanks to actor Suniel Shetty and Union Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhury.

Shetty and Chowdhury are putting together packages for foreign and domestic tourists that will include visits to shooting locales, entertainment shows and interaction with film personalities.

Says Shetty: "The tourism minister was keen on the idea. She has agreed to support us in making this theme a success." The proposal is at a preliminary stage, but Bollywood tourism is likely to be launched next year on January 26.

Shetty's entertainment company, Popcorn Entertainment, has already launched Bollywood tourism on a trial basis in Mumbai. Currently, a day tour is priced at $100 and it includes a visit to the Filmistan studio and post-production facilities and entertainment shows.

According to Shetty, the concept is very popular in the West where Hollywood is a major attraction for tourists, who visit studios and get to see the homes of the rich and famous.

Additional reporting by <i>Mansi Kapur & Hemangi Balse