Rai sprung to fame when she won the Miss World contest in 1994, which spawned a lucrative modelling and acting career. She made the transition to Hollywood with starring roles in Bride and Prejudice, Mistress of Spices, The Last Legion and more recently in Pink Panther 2 alongside Steve Martin.

She became the face of L'Oréal cosmetics in 2005 and is one of only two Indian film stars to have their waxwork image displayed at Madame Tussaud's.

She formally became a member of Bollywood's "royal family" when she married actor Abhishek Bachchan, the son of India's most popular star Amitabh Bachchan.

Now she is set to join the ranks of Hollywood immortals and pop divas like Beyoncé Knowles, Elizabeth Taylor, and Diana Ross, who have all had "celebrity Barbies" modelled on them.

Rai's representatives were yesterday reported to be in negotiations with the toy manufacturer as it plans to transform the iconic doll into a Bollywood star and sell it throughout India. If successful, the new Barbie will have Miss Rai's striking green eyes, and wear outfits created by India's top designers.