Once can be termed a fluke. The second makes a point and the third time its validation. Aishwarya Rai, then Shilpa Shetty and now Deepika Padukone, the three damsels from Karnataka have captured the imagination of the Bombay film industry.

Their dancing skills, chiseled bodies, large limpid eyes, perfect diction and dialogue delivery, dignified demeanor has the industry and viewers accepting the fact that Kannadigas have more to offer than Deve Gowda and rava dosai.

There is yet another K factor. If you combine a KK (Karnataka Kudi) with another K (khan) well you get sparkles. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam had the KK plus K combine of Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan and that raked in huge moolah and Om Shanti Om has the KK plus K of Deepika Padukone and Shahrukh Khan, and what a blockbuster that one is.

That brings us to the other Karnataka Kudi, Shilpa Shetty. She has managed to melt the icy Brit hearts. So far, the Brits thought that only Udupi cuisine is what came out of Mangalore, that coastal city (mind it, its not a town) in Karnataka. Not so. This hot Kannadiga lady has shown that Mangalore has ice (Aishwarya) and fire (Shilpa). Now beat that.

But why call them 'kudis' which is the Punjabi word for 'lass' you might ask...because they can do the Punjabi thumak better than the Punjabi leading ladies of today.

Watch Shilpa Shetty gyrating in OSO and see the Punjabi kudi Karishma Kapoor shaking her head and bobbing her knee....what was Farah Khan thinking? See Aishawarya doing the gidda in Bride and Prejudice and look at the dancing of Priyanka Chopra or Lara Datta.

There is grace and vigor in Aishwarya, but in Priyanka and Lara's style its in your face heaving and jumping and lip biting. And what about the new K entrant Deepika Padukone who is disarmingly charming as 'dreamy girl'. Her poise and innocent looks are signs that she is "lambi race ka ghoda (ghodi?)".

So, whereas there will always be room for Kareenas and Poojas of the film industry, the reigning queen will always be from the Deccan, whether it is Vijayanti Mala Bali, Hema Malini, Rekha or Vidya Balan.

Maybe, it can be loaned for a while to bong bombshells like Rakhee, Sharmila Tagore, Kajol or Rani.

But for today, it's with the K brigade, thank you.