Sharon Stone is excited about her first visit to India. The star will be in Mumbai later this month for the inaugural fundraising gala by an AIDS research foundation. “I have never been to India before and am excited about the clothes, people, architecture, culture, pageantry and various landmarks. I am looking forward to eating the food, especially Indian curry, seeing the Ganges and just about everything Indian,” says Stone, who is still finalising her travel schedule for her week-long visit to the country.
Stone hasn’t met Aishwarya Rai or Abhishek Bachchan, who support the campaign too, but is eager to meet the star couple. “I have heard of them. I am aware of the support that they have given to the campaign and their international fame. Everything they have been doing is commendable,” she says.
A big fan of Bollywood films, Sharon says, “I love watching Bollywood movies. I can’t name any right now as the names are not easy to remember, but I have stacks of CDs in my screening room. Most of them involve a tiger at some point and lots of dancing (sic).”
Talking about her first fundraiser in India, Sharon Stone says, “We are coming to India to raise money for scientific research. We are looking to partner with the good work that is already being done in regards to HIV and AIDS research. And we will work with India in finding a cure and a vaccine for it.”
On Sunday, November 17, The Indian wing of American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) will present its inaugural fundraising gala in Mumbai. The event will take place at a five-star hotel in the city. It will be co-hosted by Stone, the organisation’s global fundraising chair, and the India select co-chairs, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
{{/usCountry}}On Sunday, November 17, The Indian wing of American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) will present its inaugural fundraising gala in Mumbai. The event will take place at a five-star hotel in the city. It will be co-hosted by Stone, the organisation’s global fundraising chair, and the India select co-chairs, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
{{/usCountry}}The actor also confirms that there will be a dinner party held in her honour, which will be hosted by the Bachchans. “I heard about that yesterday and I am looking forward to it,” she says. Though she has a few Indian friends, Stone refrains from talking about them, as she doesn’t want to “infringe upon their privacy”.
A winner of the Nobel Peace Summit Award, the actor admits that she has no qualms about people thinking of her as a “sexy actor” first. “I am a sexy actor. I take that as a compliment. If that (label) helps me be and do all the things that I enjoy doing, then I am very grateful.”
Stone is busy with movies like Fading Gigolo and Gods Behaving Badly currently. However, during her visit to the city, the actor plans to visit a few cities, including Agra, to see the Taj Mahal. She says, “But the itinerary isn’t confirmed as yet. Post the event, I will take a week to travel around India and see as much as possible.”