MALAYSIANS THRONG TO INDIA DAY PARADE TO GET GLIMPSE OF BOLLYWOOD STARS

By Manik Mehta

NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- The India Day Parade, an annual colourful
spectacle that draws huge crowds of Indians, Americans and other Asians in the
United States, also attracted Malaysians who are accustomed to Indian dances,
food and other trappings back home.

However, a key attraction for many Malaysians spotted at the parade, which
was held on Sunday in the Big Apple, was the presence of a group of Bollywood
actors, notably Rani Mukherjee.

Having worked in some blockbluster films with leading Bollywood men
including
Amitabh Bachhan and Shah Rukh Khan, Mukherjee has established her own fan base
in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.

“I came here to see Rani Mukherjee and other not-so-familiar Bollywood
faces,” said Penang-born Joyce Seow who came to Manhattan from her home in Long
Island where she works as account clerk in a bank.

Another Malaysian, Johor-born Saraswathi Appaswamy, a New Jersey-based
housewife, told Bernama she was keen to see Mukherjee in the flesh.

“She has stunning personality on the screen but I also wanted to see how
she looks in real life...and I am not disappointed,” was her humour-tinged reply
to a question.

“We Malaysians have a lot in common with Indians...we share an old culture,
have almost the same 'makan' (food) culture and enjoy Bollywood films. The only
thing Malaysians don’t do, or have not yet done, is play cricket as passionately
as Indians do,” she said lightheartedly.

The India Day Parade, the 31st of its kind since it was started over three
decades back, is accompanied by huge floats sponsored by the proliferating
American and Indian companies.

It is held every year to mark India’s Independence Day.