‘Too hot to handle’

Who’s got the biggest fan club in Mumbai? SRK, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan? Nope, it’s the city itself, which is on the favourites list of not just India’s biggest celebrities but also the world’s most famous names — fromShakira to Madonna to Prince Charles...and they’re all saying Salaam Mumbai!

Shakira sizzles but even the Latino diva admitted that she'd found something in Mumbai that was way hotter than her. "Indian food is just too hot to handle," the Grammy award-winning singer told After Hours when she'd come down for a performance in Mumbai. "I know a lot of my fans from other cities are disappointed that I performed only in Mumbai, but I'm sure there will be a next time,"Shakira said.

Over the years, Mumbai has notched up so many international fans. Mick Jagger's daughter Jade loves to shop here, as does model Elizabeth Hurley; Angelia Jolie took back an experience of riding in a Mumbai local, in a second class compartment (Brad Pitt bought the tickets for them — Charni Road to Churchgate!) and Madonna came with her whole family in tow to get a first hand feel of the wondrous city within the city, described so beautifully by Australian writer Gregory David Roberts in Shantaram.

The soul of the city lies in its quaint Irani dhabas, the frantic fervour of its Ganapati festival, the earnest children practising cricket at Shivaji stadium, the enchanting curve of Marine Drive and the ubiquitous dabbawallas that make the city run like clockwork. It's not surprising that the dabbawallahs were topmost on Prince Charles' mind when he came to Mumbai and a meeting was arranged for him. "For more than a hundred years they have had an incredible record of success without using any modern technology at all - it is an extraordinary example of what can be done," he said. And that's just one of the wonders that make up our wonderful city....

news source : http://www.dnaindia.com/