He is a rock star, say some thrilled Bollywood actors about Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav who is to co-star with them in a film.

The man who is arguably India's most colourful politician will make a "very significant guest appearance" at the end of Mahesh Manjrekar's "Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav".

The cast and crew of the film flew down to Patna for a rendezvous with the minister. When he finally allowed Shetty, Kim Sharma, Masumi Makhija and producer Manik Bedi into his durbar, there was instant chemistry.

"We really hit it off," says Suniel enthusiastically. "Laluji is such a rock star. He's amazing. And what an entertainer. Yes, he has very kindly agreed to make an appearance in the film."

Director Mahesh Manjrekar who's currently shooting "Life Ho To Aisi" with Shahid Kapur and Amrita Rao confirms the news.

"I wasn't able to accompany Suniel and the others. It was impossible for me to get away from my shooting since there were dozens of actors whose dates had been coordinated. But I spoke to Laluji on the phone while they were there.

"Luckily for us he has agreed to shoot for our film. I'll probably be flying down with my cast later this week, depending on when Laluji confirms the date."

The politician will appear at the end of the film when the three heroes called Laloo, Prasad and Yadav played by Suniel Shetty, Johnny Lever and Mahesh Manjrekar respectively run into him on the road in Patna.

"It's a fabulous item and one that should bring the house down," says the film's producer Manik Bedi. This is his first foray into production. "And what better start than to get Laluji's blessings?"

Incidentally, this isn't the only Manjrekar film with a surprise guest appearance. In the one-man show "Struggler", Amitabh Bachchan appears as himself at the end as the protagonist (Mahesh Manjrekar) runs into the icon.

And in "Life Ho To Aisi", Manjrekar's favourite actor Sanjay Dutt plays the god of death, Yamraj. "Sanju is a scream," says Manjrekar.

"And I feel Laluji will be even more entertaining in my film."