Hugh Jackman and wife mix with Mumbai’s finest – including Aishwarya Rai – at film festival

By
Jody Thompson
Last updated at 8:53 PM on 26th March 2011

X-Men star Hugh Jackman was using his superhuman power to charm when he mingled with the Indian film industry’s biggest stars at the FICCI Frames film festival in Mumbai last night.

The hunky 42-year-old took to the stage to accept an award, along with Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan, 45, and Aishwarya Rai, 37 – before breaking into some impromptu dance moves.

Talking to reporters from the stage after being introduced along with his wife Deborra Lee-Furness, 55, by Aishwarya, he joked that he felt at home in India, saying: ‘Call me Jack-bhai!’ – ‘bhai’ being Hindi for ‘man’.

East meets west: Hugh Jackman, right, at Frames film festival in Mumbai last night with Sharukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai

Bollywood meets Hollywood: Hugh said that despite Aishwarya’s beauty the only women for him was his wife

He then added: ‘When I was told that I’ll be introduced by the most beautiful actress in the world, I thought they meant my wife.

‘I say this because I’m a smart man, and also because my wife’s seated in the front row.’ 

Earlier on what was the last day of the three-day festival and convention, Hugh thrilled the crowd with an impromptu dance routine with Shahruk and another Bollywood star Vidya Balan, 33.

Bhangra magic: Hugh shook a tailfeather onstage with Vidya Balan and Sharukh

Getting down: The X-Men star is a song and dance man too

Mutual appreciation: Hugh and Sharukh bowed to each other as the Bollywood star handed the Australian superstar an award

He quipped afterwards: ‘I would love to do a Bollywood role… that’s my hint!’

Vidya meanwhile enthused: ‘It was a dream come true to stand in front of the sexiest man
alive… it left all the other women in the audience green with envy.’ 

Hugh was invited to the convention hosted by Bollywood director Karan
Johar and event sponsors the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

They arrived from New York on Thursday and appeared fresh-faced and cheery as they made their way to a waiting car.

Travel companions: Hugh was in India with his beloved wife
Deborra-Lee Furness

The star was dressed down in a simple navy shirt and grey trousers while his wife sported a simple black T-shirt.

The pair, who are both Australian, have two children together – Oscar, 10, and Ava, 5.

The ever-friendly star was still smiling despite the recent news that
Darren Aronofsky dropped out as director for The Wolverine, the next
instalment of Hugh’s hit film franchise.

Jovial: Hugh hammed it up for the camera as he held his wife close as they arrived in Mumbai for the festival

According to an Entertainment Weekly source, the studio is currently regrouping, but  are reportedly ‘in no rush’ to hire someone immediately.

The star returns to the U.S. next month for his one-man show Hugh Jackman In Performance, which runs for two weeks at
San Francisco’s Curran Theatre
starting on  May 3.

In the show he will perform a selection of his favourite Broadway and Hollywood musical hits back by 17-piece orchestra.

His next movie meanwhile is Butter, which opens later this year.

According to imdb.com, it’s a comedy set in the midwest U.S., where an adopted girl discovers
her talent for butter carving and finds herself pitted against an
ambitious local woman in their town’s annual contest.

It also stars Olivia Wilde, Ashley Green, Alicia Silverstone, Kristen Schaal and Jennifer Garner.