And the Hollywood hottie’s younger sis is to romance Bollywood actor in Spanish rom-com

SHARIN WADER BUTANI Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; April 29, 2010)

Nakuul Mehta’s debut film Haal E Dil in 2008 didn’t create a flutter at the box office, but the newcomer has landed himself a role that many Bollywood’s biggies would perhaps kill for. Come August, and Nakuul will be romancing Penelope Cruz’s younger sister Monica in a Spanish romcom.

“I wasn’t supposed to be part of the film. Director Onil Ganguly Avemore had already done screen tests of young Bollywood actors and was on his way back home. That’s when he saw my film on the flight and called his casting director for my contact. I couldn’t believe my luck,” said Nakuul who plays a Bollywood actor in the film.

“Monica plays a flamenco dancer who comes to Mumbai and falls in love with me. But she’s oblivious of the fact that I’m a star. Then the rest is about me following her back to Spain,” revealed Nakuul, who is already learning Spanish to be able to interact with his onscreen love because she knows no English. In real life too, Monica, is an accomplished Flamenco dancer. She has worked in films like Last Hour, The Final Inquiry, The Blackening, Asterix At The Olympic Games (with Gerard Depardieu) and will be seen in Joshua Newton’s Iron Cross opposite Roy Scheider this year, besides doing Spanish televison shows like Un Paso Adelante.

Monica, 33, is a stunning replica of her More >