A pair of identical Punjabi vixens are taking over Hollywood and they're bringing their snakes with them.

Veena and Neena, also known as the Belly Twins, have the Hollywood market wrapped up with their sensuous style of bellydancing and not to mention their new exercise video "Bellydance Fitness for Beginners: Slim Down" which promises to be the next Tai-Bo.

Raised in Sacramento's conservative Punjabi community, the girls have come a long way to make it to Hollywood's A-list of performers.

Recent appearances include the wedding of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt and the Academy Awards.

Between acts, they also find time to act, both together and separately in countless shows including ER, and The Bold and the Beautiful.

In a matter of only a few years the twins have combined to spin their talents into an entertainment mini-empire.

"We were exposed to Indian culture and movies when we were growing up," said Neena, the younger of the two by five minutes, and recognisable by a tiny beauty mark on her right cheek.

"Our dad's half Indian and half Middle Eastern, so we were also exposed to a lot of Middle Eastern music but we never imagined that we'd become belly dancers!" chimes in Veena.

"Indians consider dance a hobby," said Neena, so no one was surprised when the girls took on bharatnatyam and bhangra, but the family balked at the thought that they could become fulltime dancers.

Not only do they keep an exhausting schedule of gigs, classes and appearances, but there's all the behind-the-scenes stuff, including choreographing and practicing their act, working with swords, candelabras and other props.

And of course there is the feeding and tending to of their eight snakes: Ginger, Aladdin, Bonnie and Clyde, Shiva, Snakey, Jezebel ... "and Eve, a giant Burmese python," said Veena. "Our snakes work even more than your average Hollywood actor!"

The two also aren't above the occasional twin trick, especially since their voices sound alike on the phone. "We can definitely trick old boyfriends," said Veena.

Neena adds: "We have a rule about guys. When he meets the two of us, a guy will gravitate toward one or the other. He should pay attention and be aware. If he can't tell the difference, then he's an idiot." - APNS