Lillete Dubey explores Australia: Great Ocean Road, Puffing Billy, and more
Synopsis
At 72, Lillete Dubey is doing Australia her way — the Great Ocean Road, a century-old steam train, Melbourne Zoo, and a family reunion thrown in for good measure. With the Great Barrier Reef next on her list, the veteran actress is giving fans an unfiltered look at life between film sets.
Key Takeaways
Lillete Dubey , 72 , is currently holidaying in Australia , calling it the ‘best kind of vacation.’ She visited the Great Ocean Road , the Twelve Apostles (now reduced to 8 ), Scienceworks , and Melbourne Zoo .
She rode the Puffing Billy steam train, described as the oldest working steam train in the world, running since 1900 .
Her next destination is the Great Barrier Reef , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Her latest film Songs of Paradise , directed by Danish Renzu , is set in Kashmir and draws on the legacy of Padma Shri awardee Raj Begum .
Veteran actress Lillete Dubey has offered fans a vivid window into her ongoing holiday in Australia, describing the trip as the ‘best kind of vacation’ in a series of posts documenting her adventures across Melbourne and beyond. The 72-year-old actress, accompanied by a group she affectionately called ‘all my girls big and small,’ has been ticking off some of the continent’s most celebrated landmarks.
Highlights of the Melbourne Leg
Dubey’s itinerary so far reads like a curated guide to Victoria’s finest. She drove along the iconic Great Ocean Road and took in the Twelve Apostles — noting, with characteristic candour, that the formation has ‘now reduced to 8 already.’ The natural erosion of the limestone stacks is a well-documented phenomenon, and Dubey’s aside captures the bittersweet reality of visiting one of Australia’s most photographed sites.
She also boarded the Puffing Billy steam train, which she described as ‘the oldest working steam train in the world,’ a heritage rail experience that has been running through the Dandenong Ranges since 1900. Visits to Scienceworks and the Melbourne Zoo rounded out the city leg, with Dubey praising the zoo’s showcase of fauna ‘special to the Aussies.’
What Dubey Said
“Down under in Australia! First pit stop… Melbourne… With all my girls big and small… Best kind of vacation! The Great ocean drive and the amazing 12 apostles (now reduced to 8 already!)… riding on the oldest working Steam train in the world… Puffing Billy… discovering the marvels of the future at Scienceworks,” Dubey wrote.
She added: “And the fauna special to the Aussies at the fab Melbourne Zoo… and a city as chilled as its friendly! With awesome food all around… and a surprise catch up with family across the oceans… thanks cuz Anita and family for the hospitality… Next stop The Great Barrier Reef… Can’t wait!”
Next Stop: The Great Barrier Reef
Dubey confirmed that her next destination is the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The announcement is sure to generate further interest from fans following her travel updates. This comes amid growing global attention on the reef’s health, with scientists flagging repeated mass bleaching events in recent years.
On the Work Front: Songs of Paradise
Away from her travels, Dubey’s latest film Songs of Paradise, directed by Danish Renzu, has been drawing attention. The film stars Saba Azad, Soni Razdan, Zain Khan Durrani, Taaruk Raina, Sheeba Chaddha, Shishir Sharma, and Lalit Parimoo, alongside Dubey herself. The story follows a Kashmiri woman’s journey to become a singer, inspired by the legacy of Raj Begum — the celebrated ‘Melody Queen of Kashmir,’ a Padma Shri awardee and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Dubey’s career spans decades of acclaimed work, including Zubeidaa, Monsoon Wedding, Kal Ho Naa Ho, My Brother…Nikhil, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Sonata, cementing her reputation as one of Hindi cinema’s most versatile character actors. Her Australian sojourn, shared openly with fans, offers a rare personal glimpse beyond the screen.
Point of View
Loyal following that engages with them as people, not just performers. Her candid aside about the Twelve Apostles shrinking to eight is the kind of detail a press release would never include, and it’s exactly why these posts resonate. At a time when celebrity social media is increasingly managed and manicured, Dubey’s unfiltered travelogue stands out. It also quietly keeps her name in circulation ahead of Songs of Paradise — a film that deserves attention for its focus on Kashmiri musical heritage, a subject rarely given screen space.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lillete Dubey vacationing?
Lillete Dubey is currently on holiday in Australia, with Melbourne as her first stop. She has confirmed that the Great Barrier Reef is her next destination.
What did Lillete Dubey do in Melbourne?
She drove the Great Ocean Road, visited the Twelve Apostles, rode the historic Puffing Billy steam train, explored Scienceworks, and visited Melbourne Zoo. She also had a surprise reunion with family during the trip.
What is Lillete Dubey’s latest film?
Her latest release is Songs of Paradise, directed by Danish Renzu. The film is set in Kashmir and follows a woman’s journey to become a singer, inspired by Padma Shri awardee Raj Begum, the Melody Queen of Kashmir.
Who stars in Songs of Paradise alongside Lillete Dubey?
The film stars Saba Azad, Soni Razdan, Zain Khan Durrani, Taaruk Raina, Sheeba Chaddha, Shishir Sharma, and Lalit Parimoo, alongside Lillete Dubey.
What is the Puffing Billy steam train?
Puffing Billy is a heritage steam train running through the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, widely regarded as one of the oldest working steam trains in the world. It has been in operation since 1900 and is a popular tourist attraction in Victoria, Australia.
