Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 28, 2014)

From one Khan to another…Elli Avram who made Salman Khan laugh, blush and dance when she was in the Bigg Boss House last season, has now travelled to Dubai to shoot a music video for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s upcoming album Back 2 Love.

 “We finished the shoot in 10 hours, even with a beach location thrown in,” says the actress who debuted in Mickey Virus last year.

 The beach location is not coincidental. It also features in the Jennifer Lopez video, I Am Into You, and Elli admits that it is a reference point. "Yes, Habibi is inspired by JLo’s video which was quite a kick because I’m a huge fan of hers and there was a time when my dad used to fondly call me by that name,” she laughs. “But more than the moves it’s the look and the attitude. It’s a big change, from sweet Elli to a sexy me.”

 The song also moves away from Rahat’s usual Sufi style to an EDM heavy track with Elli shaking a leg in skyscraper heels. “That was tough,” she admits, adding, “So were the Arabic moves because I had never experimented with that kind of choreography.”

 And what’s the buzz from B-town? Salman had promised to cast her in one of his films? “Salman likes to help people, we’re in touch but there’s nothing so far. I’m reading a few scripts but haven’t given the nod to any project yet as I am working on improving my Hindi, my dance moves and my acting with some classes.”

 The album was unveiled at an award ceremony in the US last weekend. “I’m looking forward to meeting Rahat saab once he’s back from Tampa Bay,” says Elli.