Harrods day out for Hrithik

LONDON: Film stars Kajol and Hrithik Roshan will put in a personal appearance at the UK’s premiere department store Harrods to officially launch replica dolls of themselves.

The 12-inch dolls of four Bollywood actors including Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Kajol and Hrithik Roshan will go on sale at the store which is a favourite with British royalty, from 14 September.

Shameen Jivraj, the Kenyan-born Indian creator of the dolls that are being sold under the brand name of ‘Bollywood Legends’ is confident her pet project will be a grand success. “These dolls are going to be bought by kids to play with, teenagers to aspire to, and adults as collector items,” said Jivraj.

Jivraj came up with the idea to make dolls based on Bollywood stars about four years ago.

“I became intrigued by Bollywood a little while ago and was drawn into the movies with their mix of fun, fashion, music and dance,” said Jivraj who is a former BBC licensing executive for the popular Teletubbies and Tweenies children’s brands.

The ‘Bollywood legends’ in their bright costumes – the ladies are wearing lenghas and jewellery, while the boys are clad in sherwanis or western outfits - can be taken home for a mere £24.99, along with a short write up about the actors.

Jivraj has given manufacture and distribution rights to Spin Master Toys UK who initially plan to sell about 25,000 of the Bollywood dolls. But the company hopes that sales will eventually cross the one lakh mark.