Publicity Stunt or Better Late than Never?

08.16.05 | 3 Comments | Filed Under Commentary

Armed with a broom, Preity takes to the streets

God bless Preity Zinta. Have the recent murderous showers aroused some sense in the ivory-tower-imprisoned celebrities? Or is this another of their publicity gimmicks? Hate me for saying this, but Preity urgently needs an image makeover especially after the Salman Khan tapes incident where he didn’t call her an angel exactly. This clean-the-city crusade is definitely an excellent method to achieve it.

I might be wrong.

”This is to train the general public about cleanliness and hygiene. We have to take an initiative to keep our surroundings clean,” she said.

But why NOW of all times? The dirt and the muck in our cities is omnipresent and perpetual and she (or the other celebrities) had so far never bothered about it. But wait…

And to prove that her interest in the environment is not just lip service, she arranged for 15 dustbins costing Rs 3,100 each and even got sweepers from her building to help clean up. ”We have taken the first step today. Each one should pledge on Independence Day to keep our city clean and get freedom from the dirt, garbage and stink around us,” Zinta said.

That explains it: she was waiting for Independence Day, circa 2005. Something else also sounds suspicious in this: isn’t it enough to say she arranged for 15 dustbins? Why mention the price tag?

But then the shameless Indian public took it otherwise.

‘‘Yeh log kachrewale ban gaye kya (Have they become sweepers now?)’’ some asked.

It isn’t funny. Go on Preity, you have all my support. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a broom step.

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