Shriya Saran is on a sort of Mouna Vrath (Oath of silence) for the last few days.

She is doing Vipassana Meditation at a center near Mumbai. The technique is taught at 10-day residential courses.

Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation.

As per the brochure – Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body.

It is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.

Shriya is attending the residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.

There are no charges for the courses – not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit.

Shriya Saran has a mixed bag. Her recent English film ‘Cooking with Stella’ received good reviews and was screened at the Toronto Film Festival. She was last seen in Susi Ganesan’s Kanthaswamy with Vikram where her skin show was more talked about than the film. Currently she is doing Mithran Jawahar’s Kutty with Dhanush and K S Ravikumar’s Jaggubhai will be ready for release soon.

Meanwhile the industry is abuzz with the latest news that she will very soon be diversifying and spreading her wings into Mollywood too. She is said to have signed on the dotted line for a Malayalam film titled Pokkiri Raja opposite mega star Mammootty to be directed by newcomer Vysakh. Wishing Shriya good luck with her first Malayalam film!

Denying reports that she would soon join hands with Srikanth for a film, Shriya Saran has said no such plans are in the pipeline.

“I have not signed any new films in Tamil. Three of my films which are set to release soon are ‘Jaggubhai’, ‘Kutty’ and ‘Chikku Bhukku’, “says the actress, clearing the air.

Interestingly, this New Year will see Shriya Saran shining in Mollywood. She has signed a film with Mammootty and Prithviraj. Titled ‘Pokkiri Raja’, the movie directed by Vysakh is an action-packed masala entertainer.

On accepting a Malayalam offer, she says, “My role in the film is so important. In other words, the script revolves around me. Moreover Mammootty is acting in it. So I had no hesitation in accepting the offer.”

If you do a sting operation on how desperate stars become, if offers dry up, then our heroines take the cake.

Shriya Saran after doing films with top heroes like Rajnikanth, Vijay, Vikram,Jayam Ravi and Dhanush has now reportedly signed a film opposite Malayalam superstar Mammootty written and directed by debutant Vysakh.

The buzz is that Shriya liked the script and they needed only 30 days call sheet from her. This film titled Pokkiri Raja is a mass masala action entertainer where Mammootty and Pritviraj play brothers.

When contacted, Shriya confirmed the news and said that she will start the shoot from January 2010. She also added that reports about her doing a film opposite Srikanth in Tamil is baseless and talks are on with Super Good films for a film with Jeeva in the lead.