Barbie goes to Bollywood

The glamorous American doll may still be the must-have toy for millions of little girls but an Indian challenger seems to be outstripping Barbie-at least in Manchester, UK.



When Bollywood inspired dolls went on sale for the first time in the region recently they sold out in two days.










A sell-out: Bollywood Barbie

Asian and white girls clamoured for the doll's glittering sequinned saris and sparkling body and face jewellery.


The Bollywood doll is the opposite of the blonde hair, blue eyes and pink ball gowned original. She comes with dark hair in flamboyant sari-style outfits.



Trader Jagjit Singh was the first in the region to put the Bollywood model on display at his toy stalls in Bolton and Longsight markets.



He said: "I only bought 30 Bollywood Barbies just to see how well they would do. But I wish I had bought 300. They flew off the stall. As soon as young Asian and white girls saw the dolls they snapped them up.



"They are more fancy looking than the normal Barbie dolls and have more appeal." Jagjit sold three variations of the doll.



'Soni Punjabi' is dressed in traditional bright magenta salwar kameez, typical of north India, with a glittering sequinned dupatta. On her head is an elaborate Punjabi-style maang-tikka with a nose ring.



'Sundari Gujarat' wears a silk embroidered sari worn Gujarati-style and she is adorned in rustic, but eye catching, jewellery inlaid with precious stones.



'Roopvati Rajasthani' is proving to be the most popular. She is dressed in an elegant, sequinned lengha and is dressed like Bollywood stars Madhuri and Aishwarya Rai in the hit movie Devdas.



Added Jagjit: "Since I sold out I have had many parents inquiring about the dolls and I've put in another order."



"It makes the perfect gift for young girls and is definitely this summer's top doll. After all, Bollywood is so popular in the west that anything linked to it really does sell.



"But it did surprise me that many white girls also wanted a Bollywood Barbie. When I asked them why, they said they were attracted to the costumes and said they were more exotic looking than their dolls at home."



The Bollywood Barbies are imported to the UK by Mir Media who have admitted the plastic beauties resemble former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai.



Managing director, Sair Mir said: "Aishwarya and all her outfits were a major inspiration for these dolls, especially those she wore in Devdas."



"We have used Bollywood's and India's rich cultural heritage to put a lot of intricate details into their outfits using silks, embroidery and jewellery."



The firm hopes the dolls will help young UK-born Asian girls connect with Asian culture in a way the blonde hair and blue eyed Barbies are unable to do.

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