It takes a lot to guard Julia Roberts. For starters, a group of 30 men, all 6 ft or above, many of them ex-commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Special Protection Group (SPG), forming just the inner circle.

For the past two weeks, as the Hollywood superstar shoots for her latest film Eat, Pray, Love at Pataudi in Gurgaon, men trained to be the country’s best in personal protection have been at her service.

A little-known private security company, Holistic Securities, has deployed close to 90 people to protect Roberts day in and day out for the 22 days she plans to spend shooting for the film, based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s novel by the same title. Most of the 10-odd Personal Security Officers (PSOs) forming a close security ring around the actor have, at some point or the other, served with either the NSG or SPG and are now retired from government service. And they are in addition to the actor’s own personal security from the US.

While the NSG is India’s elite commando force dealing with counter-terrorism, anti-hijacking and VIP security, the SPG deals exclusively with providing security cover to the Prime Minister, former prime ministers and members of their immediate families.

Sources told The Indian Express that 90 personnel, including PSOs, bouncers, guards and gunmen, have been deployed to guard the sprawling area housing the Pataudi Palace and the ashram where Roberts is shooting for the “Pray” segment of the movie.

As many as four-five PSOs (in SPG-like safari suits and carrying small arms) are in close proximity, three-four bouncers (in plainclothes) at a slight distance, while a battery of men keep a close surveillance on the overall surroundings.

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