Rai: Career took off after winning Miss World

One of Bollywood's leading stars, the actress Aishwarya Rai, is recovering in hospital in Bombay (Mumbai) after being injured in an accident

Rai hurt her foot late on Wednesday during a film shoot near Nasik, 185 km east of Mumbai.

Doctors have declared her to be out of danger.

There is absolutely nothing to be anxious about and she is absolutely fine Dr Sanjay Aggarwal Hinduja hospital

The accident took place just a day after the actress made headlines in a controversy involving two Bollywood actors, Vivek Oberoi and Salman Khan.

Rai's personal secretary, Hari Singh, told the BBC that she was injured when a jeep hit her during a rehearsal for the film Khaki.

The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and hit her.

Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar were also present although they did not suffer any injuries.

Rai was immediately given medical assistance before being flown to Bombay.

Several fans have gathered outside the hospital where Rai has been admitted.

"There is absolutely nothing to be anxious about and she is absolutely fine," the Reuters quoted Dr Sanjay Aggarwal of the Hinduja hospital as saying.

Controversy

On Wednesday, upcoming actor and Rai's close friend, Vivek Oberoi, accused another Bollywood star, Salman Khan, of threatening and abusing him over his relations with the actress.

Oberoi told journalists at a news conference in Bombay that Khan had allegedly made 41 calls on his mobile phone the previous night.

Vivek Oberoi: Said he was 'threatened' over Rai

Salman Khan, who was Rai's former boyfriend, has made no public comment on the incident.

The controversy has drawn Indians away from coverage of the Iraq war as it dominated newspaper headlines and television news bulletins.

Salman Khan is one of Bollywood's most controversial stars, who made big news recently when he was charged with culpable homicide after allegedly driving his car over five people, killing one of them.

The case is currently in court.

Most expensive film

Aishwarya Rai's career in films took off after she won the Miss World contest in 1994.

Now in her twenties, Miss Rai has acted in several Hindi films including Dil De Chuke Sanam, Taal and the epic Devdas.

Devdas was said to be the most expensive film ever made in India and was distributed worldwide.