/> Shilpa who's been shooting constantly for Anurag Basu's Metro, suddenly went missing from Mumbai on Saturday and Sunday.

"I didn't go MISSING," she laughs. "I was in Karachi with Urmila Matondkar. We were there on Sunday for a very exclusive fashion show attended by the who's who of the city. The proceeds were all used for a teachers' fund."

While Urmila wore and modeled Manish Malhotra's creations, Shilpa was decked in Tarun Tahliani's wardrobe.

"Off and on one does walk the ramp for designer-friends. But I've never done it outside India. However I must tell you Karachi felt like home. It's so much like Mumbai. And the people were outstanding in their hospitality. We keep hearing about the hostility between the two countries. But I certainly didn't see any of it during my visit. Everyone in Pakistan was full of warmth."

Though Urmila had visited Pakistan several times, this was Shilpa's first visit. "Not counting a brief evening at Lahore some years ago when Akshay Kumar and I had performed. It was the first performance by Bollywood stars. And now this fashion show was also a first."

Incidentally the Karachi film festival was also on when Shilpa visited. "But I couldn't attend. I heard Bhatt Saab was looking for me. Tanuja Chandra and I traveled back from Karachi together."

Any film together after the flight? "Not right away. But I am dying to work with another female director after Revathy in Phir Milenge."