Mom was born in Calcutta & grandfather was a doctor during the British Raj: Orlando Bloom

Dressed in a crumpled white shirt and loose pair of denims, Orlando Bloom’s two-day ordeal of travelling twice between India and the UK was easily visible from the exertion on his face. But still, he readily flashed that perfect smile as he posed for shutterbugs at Amar Singh’s farmhouse party in Chhattarpur on Sunday. The actor, who was deported from the Delhi airport on early Saturday morning because the e-visa he had applied for on November 30 was rejected, came back to Delhi on Sunday morning. After spending the day in Agra with Singh and producer Sheetal Talwar, he returned to Delhi later in the evening.

Orlando’s Indian connect



Not many know that Orlando’s mother was born in Calcutta and his grandfather spent a long time here during the Raj. He shares, “My trip to Agra was wonderful. My grandfather visited the Taj Mahal many years ago. My mother was born here in Calcutta and my grandfather was a doctor in India during the Raj. I had seen all these photographs of the Taj Mahal while growing up. My grandfather shot it from every angle so I really felt like I had seen it, but of course, I had not seen it in reality. I walked all around it and it is one of the most beautiful structures. When you think about what it must have taken, in that time, to create such a remarkable building – it’s a feat of human genius and excellence.”



I’m here to get away from the West

The actor tells us that after spending a day in Agra, he will set out for his own experience in India and would try to stay away from the spotlight as much as possible. “I don’t want to disclose where I am travelling next. I want to go and have my own experience here in India without any media. I came here to avoid the media and explore the country on my own. I want to see an elephant and so far, I don’t have any plans to meet any Bollywood actor. I think India is an amazing country, with remarkable culture and great food. It’s a spiritual country and the land is historic and beautiful and I came here to get away from the West.”

Orlando is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has travelled to countries like Serbia to work at the ground level. “I was talking to UNICEF about whether I should do some work at the ground level here. I think there wasn’t enough time to arrange any work with them, but perhaps I would be able to come back, if the country lets me in!” he says.
‘Airport experience compensated by the love and compassion that I’ve received now’



Recalling his “not-so-hospitable” experience at the Delhi airport, he says, “It was a really funny experience. The immigration officer was rude, I even clicked a picture of his ID-card. I requested them to let me stay for a few hours and told them that I was with all these people. But they didn’t listen to me and I was deported – it was unbelievable. So, unfortunately, it was not a very hospitable experience. But I’m here now, I came back. I think my e-visa was not filled correctly, but it was very strange. I was very polite, I told them that I was here with this man and these people, and if they could please speak to them. But I think they just wanted to make an example out of me for some reason.”

He adds, “But I think that experience has been compensated for with the love and compassion that I have received now. Everyone has been very gracious.”


Also Read: Visa-less Orlando Bloom sent back from Delhi airport, returns in 24 hrs after Amar Singh, Sushma Swaraj intervene