You
have taken up the AIDS awareness cause with a vengeance and
are doing all you can in your capacity to make the public
aware of the killer disease. But why AIDS?
Sonali
Bendre: "Because at the rate AIDS is spreading, it's
frightening. It's coming to a stage where we will be scared to
go to a dentist or take a blood transfusion - howmuchever the
need - because we will be afraid to catch the dreaded illness.
There is a deep need to create an awareness as to the
seriousness of the fast escalating situation. And I am
becoming a campaigner for this particular cause because it is
the greatest threat to the current generation, my generation.
And because they enjoy so much liberty, there is an even
greater need to take precaution. As a celebrity, I am sure
that my fans will listen to what I say and support the cause
in all earnestness. In my own small way I can only try to get
a message across and hope that people join me in the crusade
against AIDS. Which is why I was delighted to travel to Delhi
and Calcutta for an AIDS awareness drive organised by
Timescard. It was a good cause. All I'll say is wipe out AIDS,
or the population will be the least of our worries. Get
it?"
Sonali,You
are extremely popular among the guys, but you have such a low
projection in the media? We don't see you as much in print as
some other actresses?
Sonali:
"Don't ask me why, tell me why! This beats me too. Of
course, I do hear all these snide remarks being made about me
in the industry that, 'Oh, she's so good at her PR game ...
she knows how to get those covers and that newsprint by
smiling so sweetly ... she doesn't deserve the coverage she
gets ...' Tell me, for God's sake, what PR? In fact, I am the
only actress who doesn't know how to play the media game, the
PR game.
I've
always lived by my heart and never by my head. And I've always
maintained that my work will speak for me eventually. Sadly,
the media doesn't seem to think so and the industry is blind
to the fact - so far - that I am hot property as far as the
public is concerned.
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