Dubai came to a standstill when Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai was shooting for an advertisement film of a well-known soap brand.

Dubai traffic went out of gear as shooting caused serious traffic snarls on the Emirate's major arterial road Sheikh Zayed Road yesterday during the day-long shoot for Lux International.

The shooting scene involved a group of young boys and girls dancing through the streets as Rai walked past them wearing a floral frock flashing a smile.

Large groups of fans and onlookers gathered to catch a glimpse of the actress who was totally relaxed when the camera rolled while angry motorists blared their horns.

Bollywood Director Rohan Sippy, who directed the ad film, said an international crew handled the entire project.

Rai's 'global appeal' made her the obvious choice for the project, said the organisers.