Julia Roberts’ security shell hard to crack (Scenes from Pataudi)

PATAUDI - Almost 350 security men, bulletproof cars and a chopper too - that’s what it takes to secure Hollywood star Julia Roberts, who is here with her three children to shoot for the movie “Eat, Pray, Love”.

There are more than 100 policemen outside the Ashram Hari Mandir and almost equal number inside the premises, both uniformed and in civilian disguise. Nobody can breach this cover and no outsider is allowed to enter the ashram, no matter whosoever he or she is. We have strict instructions, a Haryana police official told IANS, requesting anonymity.

The actress, who arrived here Thursday, is staying at the Pataudi Palace with her three children, their nannies and other cast and crew members.

The organisers have hired more than 100 burly bouncers and security guards from Delhi that includes close to 40 gunmen (besides the police protection), the officer said.

Sources also said that the 41-year-old star has three bulletproof cars with jet-black window panes for her personal use, while a chopper has also been noticed invigilating the village.

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No Indian fans, Julia!

She’s a big star and has a huge following in India but only, it appears, in urban centres. Hollywood’s ‘Pretty Woman’ has descended on this hick Haryana town, just 40 km from the national capital, but there are no swarms of fans jostling to get a glimpse of the Oscar winner.

Who will travel down all the way to Pataudi from Delhi in the scorching heat when they (the fans) know the security is such that they wont even get to see her hand, said local resident Tulsi Das.

The only one to try their luck here so far have been the media who has also gone back disappointed, added Das.

Clearly, the proverbial Indian summer and the security are intimidating enough to keep even ardent fans away.

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Heat and smoke, Indian style

There was humidity, heat and buzzing flies. But the international cast and crew of director Ryan Murphy’s Eat, Pray, Love also had to contend with incense smoke during the first day’s shooting of their movie in this Haryana town.

While shooting at an ashram for a lunch scene Sunday, incense sticks were lit to create a spiritual ambience, but the cast and crew found the scented smoke a major irritant.

Could you please shift this thing (the ‘dhoop’ stand) somewhere else, its making me nauseous, a character artist told one of the Indian crew.

The entire unit, including Julia Roberts, were also seen using hand fans to beat the stifling heat.