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Discuss this article (15 Comments)Bollywood star chosen for 'Atlantis Goddess' role
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Wednesday, 19 November 2008
GODDESS ROLE: Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra will play the role of the 'Goddess of Atlantis' at the party on Thursday. (Getty Images)
Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra has been chosen as the 'Goddess of Atlantis' as part of a money-no-object opening party for the Dubai hotel, Arabian Business can reveal.
In an elaborate ceremony in front of hundreds of A-list celebrities and royalty on Thursday night, the former Miss World-turned actress has been given the task of officially opening the $1.5 billion hotel on Palm Jumeirah.
As the 'Goddess of Atlantis', the actress will introduce Atlantis Rising, an aerial ballet of fireworks being performed by the legendary Grucci family.
The family have previously put on displays for Olympic Games at Lake Placid, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City and have also been responsible for the fireworks at six consecutive inaugurations of US presidents, beginning with Ronald Reagan.
The night at the Atlantis, which is rumoured to be costing $40 million to stage, will begin with a royal reception hosted by party planner to the stars, Colin Cowie, who, among other big names, has organised several events for US talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
A sumptuous meal, known as the Atlantean Feast, will be prepared for guests by celebrity chefs Nobu Matsuhisa, Santi Santamaria, Michael Rostang and Giorgio Locatelli before pop star Kylie Minogue takes to the stage.
The night will be rounded off by DJ Samantha Ronson, the partner of Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan, at an event called the Royal Afterglow.
Restrictions are being placed on access to the Palm Jumeirah as part of a massive operation surrounding the grand opening of the hotel.
In a letter to residents seen by Arabian Business, master developer Nakheel said access to the Palm will be closed off from Thursday afternoon until the morning after the event.
Nakheel said access from Sheikh Zayed Road will be restricted from 2pm local time, while access via Al-Sufouh Road will be restricted from 4pm.
Access to the crescent of the Palm, where Atlantis is located, will be closed off from 7pm on Wednesday until midday on Friday, the developer said.
Nakheel said only residents holding a valid pass, to be distributed 48 hours prior to the event, or those holding a copy of their valid sales or tenancy contract would be granted access to the Palm once restrictions were in place.
The resort opened to guests on Sept. 24, despite a fire on Sept. 2 that destroyed the hotel lobby roof and caused smoke damage to the outside of the main hotel building.
The 1,539-room resort encompasses a 46-hectare site with 17 hectares of water-themed amusement parks, an open air marine habitat, beaches, boutiques and restaurants.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
'Atlantis goddess' role??
Posted by ABUSIDRA, DUBAI, U.A.E. on Wednesday 26 November 2008 at 09:04 UAE time
Bollywood star chosen for 'Atlantis Goddess' role? Are we really living in an Islamic state? Then why it's allowed for big projects, news papers etc to name whatever they want? A human being crowned a Goddess (with capital G) by human beings! So hurting and such a shame, when one knows Islam stands for strict monotheism.
Posted by ABUSIDRA, DUBAI, U.A.E. on Wednesday 26 November 2008 at 09:04 UAE time
Bollywood star chosen for 'Atlantis Goddess' role? Are we really living in an Islamic state? Then why it's allowed for big projects, news papers etc to name whatever they want? A human being crowned a Goddess (with capital G) by human beings! So hurting and such a shame, when one knows Islam stands for strict monotheism.
lets be clear
Posted by Roche, Dubai, UAE on Monday 24 November 2008 at 20:04 UAE time
If given a choice I am pretty sure both you and I will still chose to live in Dubai eventhough Dubai is pretending to be immune and others are flaunting thier incapabilities to survive the crunch.
May be it is bcoz , deep inside we belive all this crazy things will get dubai back on track much before anyother place in the world. But yes I REST MY ARGUMENT. if you chose to live back in your country.
I perhaps was the biggest critic for what Dubai has been doing all these years, and there have been lot more events like this in the past (even during gulf war) which made me belive these guyz are nuts. they have proved me and everyone else wrong before,, and i am sure they will again.
we cannot discuss UAE as we discuss any other country in the world, as it is not ruled by diplomats, economist, beurocrats or politicians, BUT COMPLETE BUSINESS MEN.
Posted by Roche, Dubai, UAE on Monday 24 November 2008 at 20:04 UAE time
If given a choice I am pretty sure both you and I will still chose to live in Dubai eventhough Dubai is pretending to be immune and others are flaunting thier incapabilities to survive the crunch.
May be it is bcoz , deep inside we belive all this crazy things will get dubai back on track much before anyother place in the world. But yes I REST MY ARGUMENT. if you chose to live back in your country.
I perhaps was the biggest critic for what Dubai has been doing all these years, and there have been lot more events like this in the past (even during gulf war) which made me belive these guyz are nuts. they have proved me and everyone else wrong before,, and i am sure they will again.
we cannot discuss UAE as we discuss any other country in the world, as it is not ruled by diplomats, economist, beurocrats or politicians, BUT COMPLETE BUSINESS MEN.
Missing the point
Posted by Karl, Dubai on Friday 21 November 2008 at 22:09 UAE time
Dubai needs, and I mean NEEDS a big shot of reality (not realty) here. It cannot continue to think that it has a right to be immune to any economic issue and it cannot and should not be so irresponsible with what it has (or has not) got. Sure, be proud of your country, but only if you know 100 percent what the issues are.
My home country is all doom and gloom and it does bring the country down, I agree. But, isn't it worse to be flag-waving when you have not got the full picture? Is it not better for your leaders to be open and honest about things? Sure, Dubai has had good times, but please let us not kid ourselves into believing that they are still right here, right now. There is optimism and there is false hope. Let us have more of the former and less of the latter.
Anything else is just deception. Good luck folks...
Posted by Karl, Dubai on Friday 21 November 2008 at 22:09 UAE time
Dubai needs, and I mean NEEDS a big shot of reality (not realty) here. It cannot continue to think that it has a right to be immune to any economic issue and it cannot and should not be so irresponsible with what it has (or has not) got. Sure, be proud of your country, but only if you know 100 percent what the issues are.
My home country is all doom and gloom and it does bring the country down, I agree. But, isn't it worse to be flag-waving when you have not got the full picture? Is it not better for your leaders to be open and honest about things? Sure, Dubai has had good times, but please let us not kid ourselves into believing that they are still right here, right now. There is optimism and there is false hope. Let us have more of the former and less of the latter.
Anything else is just deception. Good luck folks...
OOhhh Cummon Guyzz...!!!
Posted by Roche, dubai, UAE on Friday 21 November 2008 at 15:12 UAE time
Guyz.. leave Saeed Alone.. He is just proud of his country. We all have our share of poor people and conditions in our countries which doesnt mean that we also have to stop doing things the way it should. Dubai became what it is .. by doing stuff like these over the years, and it has been successful in doing so. And i guarantee events like this will sure promote the country and its economy which will inturn increase its involvement in charity activites around the world.
we are all going thru this crunch.. but lets not bring out our frustration on Saeed or Atlantis.
Posted by Roche, dubai, UAE on Friday 21 November 2008 at 15:12 UAE time
Guyz.. leave Saeed Alone.. He is just proud of his country. We all have our share of poor people and conditions in our countries which doesnt mean that we also have to stop doing things the way it should. Dubai became what it is .. by doing stuff like these over the years, and it has been successful in doing so. And i guarantee events like this will sure promote the country and its economy which will inturn increase its involvement in charity activites around the world.
we are all going thru this crunch.. but lets not bring out our frustration on Saeed or Atlantis.
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