Here's another trophy for the Bangla brigade to flaunt. The country's favourite Dadima, that bespectacled lady who appears in the Ayurvedic Concepts advertisements, is a khati Bengali. And, Kolkata couldn't have enough of her when she flew down to the city to promote Himalaya's new Chyavanaprasha.

The Mumbai-based Ava Mukherjee was quite the star at the Himalaya press conference held at the Oberoi Grand yesterday. Sweet and charismatic in an old-world kind of way, it was easy to guess why the herbal pharmaceuticals major chose her as a brand manager for their products and not some sexy, young thing.

According to Ravi Prasad, President & CEO, the Himalaya Drug Company, Mukherjee embodies the perfect blend of heritage and modernity that characterizes the company. "We are not into fads, so someone young and sexy like a film star wouldn't have worked for us". Mukherjee on her part newfound status as Dadima Number 1.

The model who has been appearing in commercials from the 1950's is pleased as punch with this sudden celebritydom. "It's nice that people recognize me wherever I go and I have suddenly become this universal Dadima", said Mukherjee who was born and lived in Bhowanipore till she shifted to Mumbai after marriage. "In real life I am not yet a grandmother", she said.