Caterina Lopez wants to marry an Indian

Everybody back home asks me – why not Hollywood, towhich I reply, why not Bollywood?” Caterina Lopez, a native of Arizona,USA – sure seems excited about her Bollywood debut in the forthcoming film“Bhindi Bazaar”. She says, “I did quite a bit of modellingback in the USA, I think that’s how the producers of the film spotted me.They felt that I had a very Indian look, so they decided to cast me over anyoneelse.”Ask her about her two item songs in the film and patcomes the reply, “The first one is called “Taan Ke Seena... Ho JaKameena” – it’s an interesting number. I was drawn to it as itreminded me of my own personality – lively and energetic. It also has aslight Latin element to it. The second song, “Akkad Bakkad”, is apromotional number directed by Kaizad Gustad (who also directed Katrina Kaif inher debut – “Boom”).”She admits that theBollywood bug bit her back in 2009 – in the wake of the success of thefilm “Slumdog Millionaire”. “I did a little research, Irealized that I loved the singing and dancing bit of it. In the West, it’snot the same. It’s all about the acting, but here you get to sing, danceand of course, act. Hence, I wanted to try it out. I am now trying to improve myHindi, I have a private tutor who gives me lessons five days a week because Idon't like my voice being dubbed.” Acting pricey already,eh?Having relocated to Mumbai, she reveals that her family isstill coming to terms with her living and working halfway across the globe. ButCaterina, on the other hand, already feels right at home in Mumbai. “Myfamily finds it hard to believe, they keep asking me – ‘how can youlive so far away and not miss America and our way of life?’”Smiling, she adds “I do try to go home off and on. I went home for theChristmas holidays and for my birthday, but my trips back home are becoming alot less frequent – the plane ride is just too darnlong.”She has spent a lot of her time travelling across India,“I have been to Delhi, Bombay, Goa and Bangalore, and I loved Bangalore. Ialso plan to go to Goa again to get a better feel of it. Between Delhi andBombay, I feel Delhi is a lot more relaxed, it has a very suburban vibe asopposed to Mumbai, which is all hustle-bustle.”When theconversation turns to food, the starlet responds with enthusiasm – thedegree of which certainly belies her lithe frame. “I love butter naan, andblack dal, they’re not the best things for my figure though(laughs).” She spoke at length of her love for butter chicken, but alsorevealed that at times, the high-spice quotient of Indian grub did upset herwatered-down American palette. “I must learn how to cook Indian food, sothat I can marry a nice Indian man,” said a blushingCaterina.Desi men sure seem to have caught the sexy latina’seye. Having already spoken of her fondness for Akshay Kumar and a certain ShahRukh Khan, Caterina spoke of her latest Bollywood crush. “I saw a moviecalled “Luck” recently. And I was so disappointed to know that theguy (Imran Khan) is married. I was like – dangit.”When the conversation turned to her famous cousin, Caterinaremained tight-lipped. “Jennifer has done really well. She is famous forher music and Hollywood. But I am here now, I want to create my own identityindependent from her super-stardom.” A noble pursuit, indeed.