Ash in hot pink

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No, she is not wearing a bridal red sari like her wax likeness at London's Madame Tussauds. Instead, the museum here has Indian film star Aishwarya Rai in a hot pink salwar-kurta with zardozi borders and an armful of bangles, on tiptoe and striking a Bollywood dance pose.

Madame Tussauds at the bustling Times Square unveiled Rai's strikingly lifelike wax model on Aug 15, amid Bollywood dancers performing to popular Hindi film songs. It was the museum's Independence Day gift to lovers of India and its popular cinema.

Rai's model will stand in a special alcove in the 'Opening Night' section, sharing the spotlight with models of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez.

The only other Indian at the museum spread over many levels and rooms is Mahatma Gandhi in his familiar garb of loincloth, holding a cane. He stands in a chamber for political and other world figures.

Rai's model has been borrowed for six weeks from the parent museum in London, where it was unveiled in 2004.

Janine DiGioacchino, general manager of Madame Tussauds in New York, said: "Aishwarya is a celebrity icon in India and beyond. We have received a tremendous number of calls from her fans in the US who are excited to visit her figure here."

Though Rai was not present at the New York unveiling, she may drop by later. She is scheduled to be in the city Aug 18 when she makes an appearance at 'Bachchan Sandhya' at Lincoln Centre, where her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan will read from his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's poetry. Husband Abhishek Bachchan and mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan will also be present at the event.