Indian stars delight excited Durbanites

BOLLYWOOD’S big names were greeted by flashbulbs and a flurry of media conferences ahead of the South Africa India Film and Television Awards in Durban this week.

Actress Dia Mirza, accompanied by film producer Mukesh Bhatt, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal board chairman Sadha Naidoo and actor Sidharth Malhotra, spoke to the media. “Durban’s been abuzz. We’ve had such wonderful messages from the locals here, and I’ve come to know some wonderful families,” said Mirza.

A boyish-looking Manish Paul joked that the views of the sea from his hotel’s balcony made him feel like he was on the Titanic.

“So I’m looking for a beautiful girl who can go with me and stand with me like that,” he said, referring to the iconic “flying” scene on the bow of the ship in the 1997 film.

Actor Ranveer Singh’s impressive moustache drew admiring whispers. He gamely danced for the cameras alongside Indian television’s TV9 presenter Suman Dubey.

On Friday morning, fan Yageetha Mahadeo was one of a handful who managed to catch a glimpse of Priyanka Chopra and John Abrahams after they landed at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport. The pair made a swift transfer under police guard to their waiting cars. “I managed to kiss John Abraham!” said Mahadeo.

The A-listers checked into the fivestar Oyster Box hotel, where they took up residence in the Presidential and Buthelezi suites.

Hotel general manager Wayne Coetzer said the stars requested “lots of vegetarian options for food, lots of fresh fruit. There were also some local requests. They’ve wanted to try our local Indian dishes.”

The stars’ sightseeing itinerary included visits to Mahatma Gandhi memorial sites and the city’s uShaka Marine World.

Meanwhile, a threat of legal action by the Tamil Action Group was averted after event organisers included several South Indian acts as part of the programme.