Aishwarya Rai

Bollywood bad boy Salman Khan, star of such films as Maine Pyar Kiya and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, arrived at Madame Tussaud’s in London today for the unveiling of his newly commissioned waxwork - much to the embarrassment of fellow Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan and his beautiful actress wife Aishwarya Rai.

Why? Not only because Salman and Aishwarya were once lovers and his figure will stand alongisde hers at the wax museum. But to rub it in, there is no waxwork of Abhishek: when a poll was held last August to decide who should join the small Bollywood crowd at Madame Tussaud’s, Salman won it hands down and Abhishek, who married Aishwaraya last April, was among the losers.

Salman Khan, a dedicated bodybuilder who has been voted among the 10 most handsome men in the world, was travelling to London with his new actress girlfriend, Katrina Kaif. He has a reputation in Mumbai as a trouble-maker.

Brushes with the law have included an incident in which his car ran over and killed a pavement dweller outside a bakery, after which a charge of manslaughter was eventually dropped.

Last August he was released on bail after spending six days in Jodhpur central jail, accused of hunting an endangered species, the Chinkara. As for Aishwarya Rai, after the break-up of their much-publicised relationship in 2002 he was accused by her family of hounding her.