Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Cameron Diaz, Peter Weir...believe it or not, the who's who of Hollywood are making a beeline for India to shoot or research film projects.

It has mostly been made possible by the power of Bollywood, one of the largest film industries in the world based in Mumbai, that is slowly but surely popularising India in the West.

Why, Will Smith was in the country only last week and expressed a desire to work with stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai and also ace director Karan Johar. Bollywood was equally eager to welcome him.

While Indian dream merchants have long scouted for picturesque foreign locales, several Hollywood entities now seem determined to explore the country as a backdrop for their movies.

According to reports, celebrated actor Morgan Freeman is coming to shoot the Moses Tate's War, which revolves around the cow saving campaign, in Rishikesh and Haridwar in the middle of 2006.

Steven Carr's Racing The Monsoon starring Michael Douglas and tentatively Aishwarya will be shot entirely in India in Sahara's Amby valley township nestled in south Mumbai and in Rajashtan, the land of sand dunes.

Douglas, who plays the double role in the film, is trying to get the support of Indian Railways because a major part of the film revolves around a diamond robbery in a train. Douglas, Sahara One Motion Pictures and Percept Picture Company have come together to produce the film.

Another Hollywood star who is fascinated by the country is action hero Stallone. He will be filming some parts of Rambo IV in Jammu and Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.

With the film, Stallone will return as a no-nonsense Green Beret, a part Navajo Indian character who takes on white supremacists in America after his family comes under attack.

Hollywood beauties Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet are also planning to visit Goa in April to research their new movie titled Holiday.

Diaz plays a neurotic American whose life changes when she meets an English traveller played by Winslet. After signing the film, the actresses felt that a backpacking trip would be the best way to prepare for their roles.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Weir will begin shooting the best-selling novel Shantaram in November 2006 in the Andamans. Starring Johnny Depp, the film will be shot in several places in India, including Havelock Island in the Andamans.

With Hollywood being one of the most prestigious film industries in the world, its stars are bound to raise the profile of India in world filmdom.