Big B, Jaya to attend unique fund raising

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan will be the chief guests of a unique fund raising event that will see 24 villagers walk the ramp with 24 celebrities.

Organised by Zarina Screwvala's Swades Foundation, filmmaker Karan Johar will host the April 10 event at Hotel Palladium here.

"Twenty-four villagers will walk the ramp with 24 celebrities, including Dia Mirza, Shiamak Dawar and Malaika Arora Khan. It's a great blend of real people and Bollywood celebrities," said Zarina, founder and managing trustee of Swades Foundation.

"Vikram Phadnis has designed the show, and we can call it ramp walk for empowerment or walk of pride," she said, adding that Phadnis was doing the show free of cost.

Zarina, wife of film producer Ronnie Screwvala, is happy Big B and Jaya spent an entire day in a village cared by the Foundation this month.

"He (Amitabh) visited the first ever community learning center (Swajan Jagruti Kendra) set up by Swades at Khamgaon village, he had breakfast and interacted with the principal, teachers and students of Pashti Secondary school in Pashti village," Zarina told IANS.

She added: "With Swades our dream is to empower people in rural India. We are grateful to all our friends who have helped us."

Several A-list celebrities are expected to attend the gala event. The funds will be used for various interventions by Swades Foundation and for the benefit of people in Raigad.

Talking about the auction lots at the event, Zarina said: "I am grateful to Shah Rukh Khan, Farah Khan and Deepika Padukone who have agreed that two buddies who will bid for the auction will get to dance with Deepika in her next blockbuster 'Happy New Year'."

Around 15 items will be auctioned.

Revealing some of the auction items, Screwvala said: "I can't reveal all the details but some are like walk the red carpet and take your front row seats at one of the world's most coveted fashion events - The Dior Cruise show May 7."

Also, actress Vidya Balan and Zarina will pledge to raise money to build toilets, library and an eye care intervention centre.