Former Miss Universe and Miss Photogenic (2000) Lara Dutta debuts in Hindi cinema with Andaaz.

Lara (named after the title track, Lara's theme, from the Hollywood classic, Dr Zhivago) says her favourite actress is Jodie Foster (Silence Of The Lambs).

The well-known model says Akshay saved her life during the Andaaz shoot. 'We had quite a close shave while shooting a song in Cape Town on a rocky shore. We got slightly adventurous and, the next thing we knew, we were pulled into the waves. Akshay saved my life.'

This Bangalore girl has bagged two more films -- Madhur Bhandarkar's Aan and Apoorva Lakhia's Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost.