Cast out

Ever since she returned to India, actor Madhuri Dixit has been in demand for ad campaigns and brand ambassadorships, the latest being Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). State-run MTDC has launched an ambitious plan to position Maharashtra as a leading global tourist attraction. Dikshit was considered a good fit for the campaign, being a Marathi mulgi (Maharashtrian lady) and one of Bollywood’s most popular stars. But the effort failed, one reason being her steep Rs 10-crore fee, the other stringent provisions in the agreement to be signed with MTDC. A reportedly heartbroken state tourism minister and MTDC Chairman Chhagan Bhujbal, thus, was forced to drop the idea.