CARNAL NATION

Bollywood actress Sherlyn Chopra, better known for her body and revealing costumes than her artistic talent, has refused to appear in an Indian condom advertisement. While the young star of such films as Dosti, Raqueeb, and Naughty Boy has acknowledged that the advertisement is quite amusing and would be financially advantageous, she feels the need to be more selective in her choice of roles. Despite the very provocative PETA ad campaign that featured her in a bikini, the actress is trying to separate herself from the sexpot image that she has created through her roles. "The ad is very funny, even children would like it," she said. "There's no nudity. The scenario interests me, as does the money, but right now I am trying to [become a big star] and therefore need to be prudent in my choice of roles." Known in some quarters as the Bimbo of Bollywood, Chopra has taken smaller roles in a bid for respectability and to work on her acting. She has taken a small role in the soon-to-be-released film Hadippa, which also features Bollywood stars Shahid Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee. It seems that playing it safe for the sake of her career does not also extend to safe sex.