[Article] Naomi Watts: I Heart Pt. Ravi Shankar

I would like to participate in Aamir Khan’s show: Naomi Watts

- Robin Bansal, Hindustan Times

Dec 30, 2012

If things go as per plans, she may just be the first Hollywood celebrity guest to visit India as we usher in the New Year. But, actor Naomi Watts will have serious things on her mind this time, including the possibility of being on actor Aamir Khan’s issue-based reality show, Satyamev Jayate, that even took him to the cover of the Time magazine.

“I would like to participate in Aamir Khan’s show, which is a fantastic platform, to create awareness about the rehabilitation of Tsunami and earthquake victims. It’s been eight years since this tragedy affected so many lives and many are still suffering. There is a sense of urgency required to create awareness for these victims. And, I was told that Aamir Khan’s show has a huge following in India; I think that’s one way to induce people to come forward and help in their own way,” says the 44-year-old, who will be seen playing the role of a real life Tsunami survivor, Maria Belon in her new flick, The Impossible.

The film is the true story of a Spanish family who faced the natural disaster in 2004 while vacationing in Thailand. The film will hit Indian screens this week and Watts is planning to come to India to promote the same and meet real life Tsunami victims here.

Watts also reveals that she is a huge fan of sitar legend late Pt. Ravi Shankar, and laments that now that he’s no more, she would miss not being able to hear him live.

“A couple of years back, one of my close friends, a huge George Harrison fan, insisted that I listen to one of Pt. Ravi Shankar’s compositions. Even though I had no knowledge about sitar music, I was mesmerised by his composition. That day onwards, I had always been looking for a chance to sit in the audience and watch Pt. Ravi Shankar perform. But when I read about his demise, I realised that I will never be able to see his performance,” she says.