London, Oct 30: The report in the Times that Aishwarya Rai, nominated as the Bollywood Queen by the western media and described as India's most beautiful woman , was " planning to plant a kiss on the Prince's (Charles) cheek for the camera" when he visits the set of The Rising, an Indo-British venture, has stirred much curiosity.
No one is appalled or surprised at the report, a kiss being the usual friendly way of welcoming a guest. But some are tempted to bet on would she or would she not. The odds against it happening would be more. Most said that once the speculation started in the media, neither advisers of the Prince nor the Rai's would like to "oblige the press".

But if this normally a common and natural form of greeting now even in India, does happen, it is bound to get frozen on the camera and it may become as famous and long-lasting as the picture of Diana sitting forlorn and lonely on a bench with the Taj in the background.

A peck from a Bollywood beauty, though, should not be a novel experience for the Prince. Way back in 1980, when he was in India to meet Mother Teresa, actress Padmini Kolhapure had created a sensation of sorts by giving him a peck on the cheek. The kiss then had generated a heated debate on whether it was in keeping with India's traditions or not.