Demi-goddess shoots at an Indian temple
It’s funny how every time a Hollywood star shoots for a film in India, they manage to invite both the wrath and the adulation of the teeming millions. In a country that is absolutely mad about matinee-idols, first it was Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who kicked up a major controversy when they were shooting for “The Mighty Heart,” a movie based on life of slain journalist Daniel Pearl. There was a big public outcry when Angelina’s bodyguards manhandled the crowd and made racist comments when they were shooting at a school in Mumbai.
Now it’s Julia Roberts turn. The Oscar winning actress who was ironically shooting for Brad Pitt’s production “Eat, Pray and Love” at a location near Delhi had everyone protesting loudly. The screen version of Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir, “Eat, Pray and Love” details the author's efforts to find spiritual enlightenment in Italy, India and Indonesia after she'd gone through a nasty divorce. Directed by Ryan Murphy, if features Ms. Roberts in the role of Elizabeth Gilbert who gives up her home near New York, a comfortable life and husband when she realises that she is unhappy with life. Her quest for peace and love takes her to these three countries.
According to the New York Post, Julia had the Indian yogis and Hindu leaders in a huff over fears that her upcoming movie will bastardize the religion and portray yoga as a crock of New Age mumbo-jumbo.
The film that was shot at Mirzapur village, 65 kilometers south of the Indian capital, New Delhi, had huge black screens protecting the sets from television crews, photographers and thousands of eager and curious fans.
Another UK based daily reported, “According to news agency reports, Julia is being protected by 350 guards, including 40 gunmen, while being driven in bulletproof cars tailed by a helicopter. (At what point does set security officially cross the line into private army?)”
Interestingly, one of the pertinent questions being asked is who the real goddess is!
Though this may be a bit of an exaggeration, apparently, the reason why Ms. Roberts managed to unwittingly antagonize a lot of people is because the regular worshippers were not allowed entry into a temple she was shooting at, on one of the nine days of Navratri.
In an attempt to do some damage control, Julia tried to make amends by having a Hindu priest bless her 3 children with traditional Hindu names. So now, the Pretty Woman’s four year old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus are called Laxmi and Ganesh, while Henry is known as Krishna Balram.
Though in all fairness must say that the Hollywood actress did everything to blend in. Right from attending a havan/a religious ceremony held to bless the film to walking barefoot at the Taj Mahal and asking lots of questions about Mumtaz, in whose honour the world famous symbol of love was built, the actress gets full marks for adapting and respecting the cultural tapestry and traditional rituals of India.
As we go to press we hear Cameron Diaz is keen to see the Taj Mahal. Watch this space for what happens next!
It’s funny how every time a Hollywood star shoots for a film in India, they manage to invite both the wrath and the adulation of the teeming millions. In a country that is absolutely mad about matinee-idols, first it was Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who kicked up a major controversy when they were...
It’s funny how every time a Hollywood star shoots for a film in India, they manage to invite both the wrath and the adulation of the teeming millions. In a country that is absolutely mad about matinee-idols, first it was Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who kicked up a major controversy when they were shooting for “The Mighty Heart,” a movie based on life of slain journalist Daniel Pearl. There was a big public outcry when Angelina’s bodyguards manhandled the crowd and made racist comments when they were shooting at a school in Mumbai.
Now it’s Julia Roberts turn. The Oscar winning actress who was ironically shooting for Brad Pitt’s production “Eat, Pray and Love” at a location near Delhi had everyone protesting loudly. The screen version of Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir, “Eat, Pray and Love” details the author's efforts to find spiritual enlightenment in Italy, India and Indonesia after she'd gone through a nasty divorce. Directed by Ryan Murphy, if features Ms. Roberts in the role of Elizabeth Gilbert who gives up her home near New York, a comfortable life and husband when she realises that she is unhappy with life. Her quest for peace and love takes her to these three countries.
According to the New York Post, Julia had the Indian yogis and Hindu leaders in a huff over fears that her upcoming movie will bastardize the religion and portray yoga as a crock of New Age mumbo-jumbo.
The film that was shot at Mirzapur village, 65 kilometers south of the Indian capital, New Delhi, had huge black screens protecting the sets from television crews, photographers and thousands of eager and curious fans.
Another UK based daily reported, “According to news agency reports, Julia is being protected by 350 guards, including 40 gunmen, while being driven in bulletproof cars tailed by a helicopter. (At what point does set security officially cross the line into private army?)”
Interestingly, one of the pertinent questions being asked is who the real goddess is!
Though this may be a bit of an exaggeration, apparently, the reason why Ms. Roberts managed to unwittingly antagonize a lot of people is because the regular worshippers were not allowed entry into a temple she was shooting at, on one of the nine days of Navratri.
In an attempt to do some damage control, Julia tried to make amends by having a Hindu priest bless her 3 children with traditional Hindu names. So now, the Pretty Woman’s four year old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus are called Laxmi and Ganesh, while Henry is known as Krishna Balram.
Though in all fairness must say that the Hollywood actress did everything to blend in. Right from attending a havan/a religious ceremony held to bless the film to walking barefoot at the Taj Mahal and asking lots of questions about Mumtaz, in whose honour the world famous symbol of love was built, the actress gets full marks for adapting and respecting the cultural tapestry and traditional rituals of India.
As we go to press we hear Cameron Diaz is keen to see the Taj Mahal. Watch this space for what happens next!
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