No Smoking in Rome

After Soha Ali Khan, it's John Abraham's op to turn the spotlight on Bollywood in Rome.

The actor, looking quite dashing -- don't you think? -- attended the premiere of Anurag Kashyap's No Smoking during Day 7 of the 2nd Rome Film Festival on Wednesday, where he probably had a chance to rub shulders with sultry Monica Bellucci, Tom Cruise and Robert Redford.

The film is about a self-obsessed chain smoker who wants to quit and looks at  a few adventurous ways to achieve his goal. No Smoking was shot at a series of remote locations in Kazakhstan, Siberia and Russia. In addition to John, Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal and Ranvir Shorey also star in the film.

Incidentally it is the second Bollywood film to be screened at the festival after Soha's Khoya Khoya Chand. Anurag Kashyap was invited to screen his film in Rome.

Indian films have apparently won huge appreciation at the current Rome Film Festival, which has decided to celebrate Indian culture, film and music this time.

"Both Indians and Italians excel in imagination and are gifted in arts. Their coming together at the Rome Film Festival this month is a celebration of the best talents of the two countries," Indian Ambassador to Italy, Rajiv Dogra  said.

PTI and Rediff Entertainment Bureau

Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images