After HIV/AIDS, the latest cause to catch the fancy of Bollywood film stars is climate change. Those who have now jumped on the climate change bandwagon in order to spread awareness about global warming and greenhouse gas emissions through sheer star power are megastar Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek and bahu Aishwarya.
In any case, these days it is both politically correct and fashionable to proclaim commitment to environmental issues and climate change. Shilpa Shetty, in the limelight after her success in UK TV show Big Brother followed by the much-controversial peck with Hollywood star Richard Gere at an HIV/AIDS awareness programme, has also decided to support the cause of global warming.
While there are plenty of stars who would like to talk about their green credentials, Bachchan, like always, is the first one to pioneer Bollywood’s commitment to the cause of global warming via the prestigious International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event, currently on in the UK.
IIFA this year is dedicated to the cause of global warming and climate change and Bachchan, in Yokshire with his multi-star family in tow, has been vocal on his commitment to do everything possible through his voice and face to raise awareness about dangers of climate change in India and the world. Particularly concerned about India, Bachchan recounted how experts predicted that India would be one of the worst affected by depredations of climate change. The issue was also discussed at the IIFI-FICC Global Business Forum.
In the past Bollywood stars, like their counterparts in Hollywood, have been active in several social causes, including expressing concern over the rising threat of AIDS in India. They have also been roped in by the government to lend their names to various social causes. Bachchan in particular has been involved with polio awareness programmes and Heroes Project.
Shabana Azmi and husband Javed Akhtar have active in supporting the cause of slum dwellers. Lately, Akhtar has also been lending active support in campaign against encounter killings of Gujarat. Salman Khan, who has always been in news for wrong reasons, is also involved in a project for old people and has even taken to painting to raise money for his dream project.
Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan have also appeared on the TV with brooms in hand to propagate the virtues of cleaning their city. And not to forget Amir Khan, who managed to land himself in some political trouble after he supported the Narmada Bacaho Andolan. Recently item girl Rakhi Sawant too donned the avtaar of a social activist after she orgainsed a morcha against the garbage in the lane near her building . She also threatened to go on a hunger strike with residents of her building if the BMC did not solve the problem of garbage near her building
