NEW YORK: Mandira Bedi, Bollywood actress, TV hostess and glamorous cricket commentator, has been appointed by Dubai-based Sternon Real Estate as brand ambassador for its NRI mega-project Magic Hills Residences near Navi Mumbai International Airport. Mandira, who has recently been chosen to play Ingrid Bergman's role in a South Indian remake of the Hollywood movie classic Casablanca, will endorse the exclusive NRIs-only complex of villas and row-houses, spread across 400 acres by associating herself with various promotional activities.

The project is coming up off Mumbai-Pune Express Highway in close proximity to the Navi Mumbai International Airport."Just like Mandira Bedi, Magic Hills is unique, arresting and bold," said Hussaini F. Nalwalla, Managing Director of Sternon. "Magic Hills has created quite a stir among the NRI community worldwide and we are positive Mandira's endorsement will give a seal of excellence and originality. Mandira Bedi is a household name today among Indians and Sternon is proud to appoint her our brand ambassador."

"I am proud to be associated with Sternon and Magic Hills Residences, as the new project in Navi Mumbai promises to set new standards in high living, keeping in mind the expectations of NRIs," said Mandira. "India is certainly becoming an attractive place to live and work, and Sternon's Magic Hills represents a golden opportunity for NRIs to invest in.

"The Magic Hills Residences project, being developed by Sternon jointly with Garnet Construction, a Mumbai-based developer, was among the first mega projects to be announced in Mumbai's satellite city. Prices of real estate in Navi Mumbai have since zoomed, with the start of construction work at Navi Mumbai International Airport in Panvel, the Special Economic Zone of Mukesh Ambani and Gulf Finance House's Energy City India.

The first phase of Magic Hills has been sold out, and Sternon is gearing to market the next phase of the ambitious complex that will also have commercial wings. A direct access road from the Mumbai-Pune highway is also under construction.Navi Mumbai is the only Indian city to be featured in the National Geographic Channel's 'Super Cities of the World' series. CIDCO has drawn up elaborate plans to connect the proposed airport to Mumbai city.

The four-pronged plan involves a metro rail, a ring railway, a ferry service and an inter-state bus terminal, all designed to move people from south Mumbai to the Navi Mumbai International Airport in just 40 minutes.