Shetty's New Perfume Auctioned For Charity

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:34:21 -0000

Indian film actress and model Shilpa Shetty has raised a phenomenal amount for charity through the sale of her new fragrance at a recent auction in Britain.

The new perfume, called S2– pronounced S Squared – sold for over $31,000 at the auction on November 3, with proceeds going to Cry, a children’s charity in India. The 32-year-old star of 50 Hindi language films recently launched her new perfume to critical acclaim around the world, and the fragrance has already become a top seller in Britain.

“It’s a thrilling feeling for Shilpa, and she’s almost jumping for joy,” said her publicist, Dale Bhagwager. “She is thrilled that her perfume has managed to raise this amount for charity. What’s remarkable is that the sum raised from auctioning the S2 perfume topped other auction items, including a diamond and ruby necklace, and a Cartier watch.”

The bottle of perfume was bought by fashion tycoon Danni Passi, and the auction marks the second time Shetty’s fragrance has raised a massive amount for charity. The first bottle to roll off the production line was sold for $18,000 in June at an event organized by MP Keith Vaz, with the proceeds going to Vaz’s diabetes charity, Silver Star.

“I’m amazed and delighted that my fragrance has raised such an amazing amount for Cry,” said Shetty, who became a household name in Britain after winning Celebrity Big Brother 2007. “The proceeds of my fragrance and of the entire auction will make a real difference to the lives of underprivileged Indian children.”

Cry – Child Rights and You – is an Indian charitable organization set up in 1979, dedicated to help deprived Indian children. Their aim is to motivate children and give them the opportunity to reach their full potential, while restoring their basic rights for survival, protection, and development.

S2 is available in stores and on the internet now. Bhagwager describes the fragrance as “a kaleidoscope of rich floral aromas with a fruity zest, including the scent of Mandarin, Bergamot, Peach, Jasmine, and Sandalwood.”

Fiennes, Shilpa Raise AIDS Awareness in India

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:23:18 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

British actor Ralph Fiennes and the UK Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty are doing their parts to raise AIDS awareness in India.

With 5.7 million infections, India has the world’s largest number of people living with HIV and AIDS. According to UNAIDS figures 202,000 of these are children, with about 60,000 more children likely to be born with HIV every year.

Although the Indian government offers free drugs and people are gradually beginning to speak openly about the issues involved, a social stigma commonly surrounds the disease. People affected by HIV and AIDS are often disowned by their famies, denied treatment at hospitals, made outcasts in their communities, and their children barred from schools.

At the end of January, Fiennes visited four villages in five days while travelling as an ambassador to UNICEF. The English Patient star listened to the experiences of young people and children affected by HIV in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

“What has moved me is not the tragedy or the shadow over these people, but the strength it brings out in them,” he said about meeting with people were disowned by their families once they learned they were HIV positive.

“Education, awareness and prevention are the key, but stigmatization and exclusion from family is what makes people suffer most,” he said.

AIDS has also been an important issue to Bollywood actess Shilpa Shetty for the past four years. She is starting a charity dedicated to to raising AIDS awareness called the Shilpa Shetty Foundation, and is donating all of her winnings from Big Brother to the cause.

Shetty’s performance as an AIDS patient in the Bollywood film Phir Milenge won her several Best Actress nominations.

She says, “India is the second largest affected country in the world with the AIDS. So I think it’s important to do something about it and it’s every person’s right to live with dignity in our country, even it’s a person who is HIV positive.”

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