Hema Malini in trade diplomacy! It happened once and it has happened again.

After Friday morning's discussions on trade and investment between India and the Kyrgyz Republic here, there was talk of forging closer cultural ties between the two countries, which have shared histories.

Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh mentioned to the visiting Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbaev how the Kyrgyz epic poem "Manas" has so much in common with the epic Mahabharata. He also drew attention to the small community of gypsies in the southern region of the republic that traces its origin to India.

Sarbaev then replied that Hindi films are very popular in his country and named "Awaara", "Bobby" and "Seeta Aur Geeta" as all-time favourites.

Ramesh then immediately called up Hema Malini on her phone, who played the twin roles of Seeta and Geeta in that popular film, and asked her to speak to the Kyrgyz minister.

Sarbaev, who was floored, then invited Hema Malini to visit his country as a state guest as she was so popular there.

Just three months back, recalled Ramesh, Uzbekistan's Commerce Minister had also confessed to his great admiration for Hema Malini and for her performance in 'Seeta aur Geeta' particularly.

He too had asked Ramesh to convey to her the greetings and good wishes of his countrymen.