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PAGE ONE
 
Shakira’s not quite the demanding diva
Orders light meals, Led Zeppelin, herbal bath salts and won’t miss Farah Khan
Purva Mehra

Mumbai, March 21: Come Sunday and the MMRDA Grounds will resonate with Columbian singer Shakira’s hip-shaking. The worldwide sensation is in Mumbai next for her World Tour 2007.

With 48 hours left for the diva’s private aircraft to land—she arrives with an entourage of 70 from Dubai on Saturday, performs on Sunday and leaves the next day for Cairo—the Grand Hyatt, Santacruz, is stepping up the preps for the 30-year-old singer’s visit. Of the hotel’s three theme suites, based on the sun, the moon and the earth, the Grammy winner will be sleeping in the ethnic The Earth Presidential Suite.

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Besides plumping the embroidered cushions there, the hotel staff has arranged for an assortment of especially flown in Moccaros and white lilies. Her library will include a collection of coffee-table books on India, a music selection with all of her albums and CDs of her favourite artists: Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Police, The Cure and Nirvana.

The hotel has also arranged for a special Ayurvedic herbal and rosemary essence bath salts from Thailand. And yes, her preferred publications have been ordered-The New York Post and USA Today.

Andreas Krampl, executive chef for the hotel, has prepared a menu keeping in mind Shakira’s tight schedule. “Her manager requested for a light and healthy meal, prepared in less oil and sugar, rich in proteins and carbohydrates. Shakira loves berries and fruit so we are having some imported, and also offering a local fruit selection. The menu is mainly Continental with bits of Mediterranean, like olives, feta cheese and Roman lettuce,” he says. Indian fare is being prepared for her dancers and crew with varieties of tikkas, dal and different Indian breads.

Despite speculation on the singer’s Bollywood visit, director Farah Khan has denied any such meeting, “I’m leaving for an out-of-town shoot in two days,” says Khan.

Venkat Vardhan, MD of DNA Networks, says her concert performance will have an elaborate stage. “It’s the first time that an artist will be using Liquid Electronic Display (LED) screens. The onstage equipment also includes special effects and audience interactivity,” he adds. That means she will step into the audience and some lucky blokes may actually be able to touch the star.





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