Katrina Kaif draws in prospective suitors in Patiala

Katrina Kaif has no dearth of suitors in Patiala where hopefuls have been lining up outside her hotel to catch a glimpse of the movie star. Ever since Katrina Kaif began shooting for director Ali Abbas Zafar’s Mere Brother Ki Dulhan in Patiala, a lot of the local Punjabi boys are lining up at the non-luxury hotel Iqbal Inn, where she is staying, hoping to catch a glimpse of her and it’s not just for autographs.

Of course, the fact that she is a popular actress is incentive enough. But a lot of the local boys who show up at the hotel call her ‘Jasmeet’ (her name in Namastey London). At first, Kat was puzzled. Later, it struck her why. Laughs Katrina, “In Namastey London I played a girl who comes to Punjab with her parents, looking for a bridegroom. I think these gentlemen take my screen role too seriously.

These wannabe husbands keep showing up, asking for the actress. When they’re told she has gone for shooting, they ask for “Katrinaji’s parents” for “negotiations” The bemused actress has to sneak out the backdoor and back in, in a disguise after the shooting. Says the actress, “It’s fun as long as the shooting doesn’t get disrupted or I am not intruded upon. These are harmless fans… at least most of them are.”

Things got a little out of hand these past few days when fans began showing up with shagun ko tohfa and shaadi ka jodaa to lock in on the marriage. That’s when the security was tightened around the otherwise sleepy hotel. Kat admits, “We’ve the local administration in Patiala providing us the security. And then we’ve our own security from Mumbai. So I guess it’s safe. Fortunately, the shooting is a little out of Patiala. Shooting in town would’ve been impossible.”

She adds that she’s roughing it out. “The place we’re staying in is very basic. There’re no luxury hotels here. I enjoy the austerity. I think we actors are much too pampered.”But Katrina is being looked after by producer Aditya Chopra. The Chopra scion sends anxious messages to the Mere Brother Ki Dulhan crew asking about his leading lady’s welfare. Her two co-stars Imran Khan and Ali Zafar are also very protective.

Kat find the boys, “very sweet. Knowing that shooting in a place where things can get uncomfortable they keep an eye on me and especially on the people who show up at the shoot and the hotel. Prospective grooms would have to be screened by my two vigilant co-stars.”