The Asian Age

Puunam Khaur roots for handlooms and weavers

- SASHIDHAR ADIVI

We hear actress Puunam Khaur’s passion for the weavers’ community has brought her some good news this National Handlooms Day.

Apparently, the actress was participat­ing in a live webinar on handlooms a couple of days ago, when her passion for the weavers’ community caught the attention of Pratap Sarangi, Union Minister of State for MSME, who was also attending the webinar.

Now, word has it that he might recommend her name as the brand ambassador to the textile ministry. Puunam, who says she began getting congratula­tory messages from her friends already, is clearly excited at the possibilit­y.

The actress’ passion for weavers’ community might hand her the national brand ambassador­ship for handlooms

“I was thrilled with the announceme­nt; it’s something that I did not expect,” says Puunam. “My father was a cloth merchant, so working for weavers and their communitie­s is something I naturally connect to.”

The actress also tells us that she hopes to make significan­t contributi­ons to the health and eyesight issues among women in the weaver communitie­s. She hopes to talk to someone like Mallesham to get an idea about how we as a people can reinvest in these communitie­s.

“I don’t only want to be a poser; I literally want to make a difference by working towards the betterment of weavers’ lives,” states the actress. “And while to be a brand ambassador would mean a blessing, I also know it would also mean a huge reasonabil­ity.”

Puunam was earlier the brand ambassador of Andhra Pradesh State Handlooms, an experience the actress tells us she hopes to leverage on. “That stint has been very motivating, though simultaneo­usly very dishearten­ing because I was pulled into a controvers­y,” recollects Puunam, who adds that she holds Pratap Sarangi in high esteem. “It literally affected my personal life and cost my marriage dearly. But I want to tell people that everything I own in life is the result of my hard work. So I hope I will get an opportunit­y to serve the community again, and hope what Mr Sarangi said will realise soon. Appreciati­on from someone like him is a great blessing.”

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