NEW DELHI: The presence of Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts has turned villagers in Pataudi, Haryana into instant celebrities who are amused by the media thriving on them to get updates about the Hollywood star and her film Eat, Pray, Love.

“Since she is not interacting with the media, journalists come to us for details. Everyone here is now talking about her and reading the local newspapers. I now know that she won the Oscars,” said Manoj, a Pataudi.

Some of the youngsters are thrilled to read their names in the newspapers and are more than willing to provide details to the media.

Pataudi villagers are not new to celebrities as the place is home to Nawab Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and his Bollywood family including Sharmila Tagore, Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan.

“Bandhan, Mangal Pandey and lot of other films have been shot here. Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Jackie Shroff have visited the city but never has the village got so much attention till now,” a villager said.

“She always bids me Hi-Bye and appears as a very friendly person now that she regularly sees me around. She also discussed with the unit people on what all she should try out in Indian food,” a security guard said.

The 25-acre ashram, which boasts of a Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, hostels for boys and

girls, a hospital and an old-age home, has been turned into a virtual fortress to keep away the paparazzi.