Bollywood and Jet Li to provide Davos star power

January 28, 2009 01:45:29 PM

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Bono is too busy so Chinese martial arts movie star Jet Li and the king of Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan will be providing the glamour counterweight to politicians at this year's Davos forum.

Bono "has a day job too," World Economic Forum spokesman Mark Adams said explaining why the U2 frontman would not be attending this year's gathering in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos.

The Irish rock star has been at the past three forums campaigning for the poor and the environment, but this year is busy recording a new album with his group, said Adams.

Actresses Angelina Jolie and Sharon Stone, who have also added glamour to the event in recent years, are not coming, and have not been replaced by any other Hollywood A-listers.

But the spotlight could be moving from the Anglo-Saxon entertainment circuit to Asian cinema stars.

Just as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao could steal the political limelight from western counterparts, Chinese action star Jet Li is expected. The veteran Bachchan, superstar of Indian cinema for more than three decades, is also set to lend an eastern touch to Davos where a Bollywood party is to be held.