London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony coverage picture

Delayed: The live broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies in London are being held by NBC, and will be broadcast instead at 7:30pm EST tonight; here, the performance has already started

Ringing in: The Olympic rings are illuminated with pyrotechnics as they are raised above the stadium

Foggy day: A storm cloud is suspended over the stadium, giving a cheeky nod to the country's notoriously grey summer

Idyllic: Artists perform a scene in pastoral wear

Good health: Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service (NHS) perform

Dickensian: Artists arrive on a horse and carriage, a nod to a bygone era of top hats and waistcoats

Variations on British themes: Danny Boyle drew inspiration for the show from British culture, including Alice in Wonderland, James Bond and Harry Potter, as well as Shakespeare

Variations on British themes: Danny Boyle drew inspiration for the show from British culture, including Alice in Wonderland, James Bond and Harry Potter, as well as Shakespeare

Country affair: Performers carry instruments during a segment of the ceremony

Regal: Looking festive in a pale coral, Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, right, appear at the festivities

Royal spectators: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoy the atmosphere ahead of the ceremony

Majestic: The Red Arrows fly over the Olympic Stadium at sunset, leaving plumes of red, white, and blue in the sky

Not so happy: Spectators pass along a huge inflatable ball during the Opening Ceremony; many in the U.S. are upset they won't see the ceremony 'live'

Full house: Thousands of spectators - an estimated 60,000 - take their seats ahead of the ceremony

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Video and Pics - Madhuri Dixit posing for Madame Tussauds wax statue

MADHURI AT MADAME TUSSAUDS

The quintessential Indian beauty Madhuri Dixit has been named as the next Bollywood star to have her wax statue at Madame Tussauds London. Madhuri Dixit has already given a sitting to the Madame Tussauds' sculptors in Mumbai and is expected to unveil her likeness in London in March. To ensure total authenticity, Madhuri will be closely involved in the creation process, collaborating with the team to agree the pose and even donating a Manish Malhotra sari for her figure to wear. Her hair will flow loosely over her shoulders, styled to show off her long tresses to full effect. An official statement from Madame Tussauds London said: “The decision to include Madhuri is set to delight Bollywood fans around the world as we are constantly inundated with requests to feature Madhuri. Her figure will make a stunning new addition to our Bollywood area which continues to grow in popularity every year.” Talking about the honour by Madame Tussauds, Madhuri Dixit said: “I am very happy that I was chosen...somewhere it is a recognition of your art, of what you stand for, and kind of a reward for all the work that you have put in.” Madhuri’s statue will be placed in Madame Tussauds London. It will be another huge honour for the actress whose beauty has inspired a painter like MF Hussain. Here’s Madhuri posing for her Madame Tussauds statue. Also don’t miss the images ahead.

EYEBALL SAMPLE

Madhuri does the eyeball matching with the sculptor Jethro Crabb.

Madhuri's wax figure will cost £150,000.

MEASUREMENTS

A team of sculptors, hair, make-up and wardrobe experts will take around four months to create the wax figure.

MADHURI

Madhuri Dixit will share the space in Madame Tussauds Museum with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan.

MADHURI

Madhuri's statue will have her flashing her beatific smile.

UNVEILING Madhuri will personally unveil the statue in March.

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Pics - Madhuri Dixit unveils her wax statue at Madame Tussauds London

GUESS THE REAL ONE!

Madhuri Dixit, one of the most mesmerising beauties of Hindi cinema and the muse of the late painter M F Hussain, has now been honoured with a wax statue at Madame Tussauds Museum in London. The Bollywood diva with a smile to warm the cockles of anyone’s heart unveiled her wax statue in London on Wednesday. She was accompanied by her husband Ram Nene and two sons. "I am thrilled to be here in Madame Tussauds unveiling a wax figure of myself. It's incredible just how detailed the figure is - they have captured my look beautifully! I feel very humbled to be included alongside other Bollywood stars and some of my personal heroes," Madhuri said in a statement on the museum's official website. The museum already houses the statues of Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan. The wax statue of Madhuri Dixit took about four months to make at a cost of 150, 000 pounds. It dons a pink sari donated by the actress herself. Madhuri Dixit took part in sittings with sculptors from the museum in Mumbai a few months back. Photo gallery: Madhuri poses for her wax statue The wax statue, though made painstakingly, is a close replica of Madhuri, butthe question is: does it convincingly recreate the million-dollar smile of the actress?. Check out more photos ahead and decide for yourself.

WAXED

The waxed statue of Madhuri.

MADHURI Madhuri unveils her wax statue at Madame Tussauds.

MADHURI

Madhuri's wax statue with those of Hrithik and Shahrukh.

MADHURI

Madhuri's wax statue at Madame Tussauds.

MADHURI

Madhuri poses with her wax statue at Madame Tussauds.

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