Shabana, Javed head for Buckingham Palace as royalty guests

Actress and social worker Shabana Azmi and her illustrious husband Javed Akhtar have been invited to spend a few days at the Buckingham Palace as Prince Charles’ personal guests. “That’s right,” said Shabana. “Javed and I have been invited by Prince Charles for a four-day visit to Buckingham Palace from July 12 to 16.”

Along with her, industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Laxmi Mittal and Ratan Tata have also been invited.

Asked about the motive behind this royal opportunity, she said: “It is essentially to discuss long-term India-Britain relations with regard to charitable causes. We’ll deliberate on how to further charitable links between the two countries.

“That would include closer collaboration between the Ratan Tata Trust and the Prince Charles Trust. Let’s see how it goes,” said Shabana who is known for her global social and political concerns.

“I really don’t know how these opportunities come my way,” she observed. “They just fall into my lap. I’ve known about the visit to Buckingham Palace for some time now. But it’s only now as it approaches and you ask me about it, that I’m giving it a thought.”

So what would she be wearing for this four-day tryst with royalty?

“I really don’t know! Now you’re making me seriously concerned,” laughed the actress whose sartorial elegance is legendary. “My penchant for colours and threads is something I’ve inherited from my mother,” she said with pride.

— By Subhash K. Jha (IANS)