Bachchan boost to brand India in UK

So now I know one very good reason (at last) of living in South London — because, thanks to one particular torchbearer, it feels like we have already won an Olympic gold medal.

When we moved from North London to the South a few years back everyone seemed surprised. North London has always been considered the more “posh” end of the city. Even though we much prefer the area we live in, very quiet and very green, though with few Asians, it was difficult to convince those are addicted to Hyde Park and Oxford Street, Chelsea and so on. Those among our desi friends, especially, could not fathom our fascination for the peaceful life.
But now suddenly the spotlight has shifted to our end as Amitabh Bachchan ran with the Olympic torch through Southwark — which happens to be our borough. Though I am not too fond of the precise area he was requested to run through (London boroughs tend to alter in character quite dramatically even within a few kilometres), I am sure all cheered for the tall familiar figure as he jogged past. His inclusion gives a boost to the Indian brand image at a time when the global Indian brand is declining.
Like everyone I thought it was an immensely clever ploy to ask Big B to carry the Olympic flame. A combination of sports and Bollywood is always good public relations. Of course, it was no surprise that among others, Lakshmi Mittal, the richest man in the United Kingdom, was also asked to hold the flame high. After all, he has contributed many millions towards the newly opened ArcelorMittal Orbit tower next to the Olympic park. And for those who don’t know Anish Kapoor, the marvellous artist who designed the tower (though I don’t think this will be remembered as his best achievement) also has his studio not very far from where Big B was jogging. And so there already seems to be a bond between South London, the Olympics and India.
But while we bask in reflected glory, the real test of all this build-up will come when the Indian contingent brings home some actual gold!
And, through some Indian jugglery, that problem might also have been sorted out. According to press reports, the Indian team need not fret if they don’t win an actual Olympic gold medal. The Sahara Group will actually top up bronze or silver medals with two to three kg gold medals. And a gold medal will be further enhanced by another five kg gold medal. With the price of gold shooting up, this gesture makes any win at the Olympics very valuable indeed. And we also know that there will be a blizzard of freebies, houses and jobs awaiting winners from their respective state governments as well. At last other sports will get the same stature that cricket already has in India.

But for Britain’s economy, which is in recession, no amount of medal tallies will help. Chancellor George Osborne must desperately hope that the games will provide an economic leap. Though the welcome news is that the Olympics cost has been kept well within the budget, it is also important to recover the money and, in fact, perhaps make a neat profit. And there are a few good omens…
The weather gods finally seem to be smiling on the London mayor, Boris Johnson, who has been determinedly telling gloomy Londoners to stop complaining. He is laughing off the doomsayers and those who are planning a season of strikes. The star-studded opening ceremony will no doubt provide another dollop of “feel good” British pride as the redoubtable Danny Boyle delivers another box office hit.
Coming so soon after the celebrations for the very successful Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Royal flavour will also be visible in the Olympics. The three young musketeers — the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry — are expected to be at the forefront flying the flag and attending almost every day. The Duchess was already spotted playing table tennis rather deftly in a 35 pound Hobbs outfit and the young royals will also be seen together cheering their cousin Zara who will represent Team GB at some of the equestrian events. And quite rightly, while Prince William will watch football, Prince Harry has chosen the far more gentlemanly sport, beach volley ball.

While we are talking about putting India in the news let us spare a thought for another kind of “sport” though not of any Olympian variety. A so-called “Bollywood legend”, Sherlyn Chopra, has been featured in some of the London tabloids, including the Daily Mail, for stripping for Playboy magazine. Chopra had also been apparently photographed with Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, saying, “I am thinking of making him my idol because he lives his life on his terms and his conditions.” Oh well, we all have our heroes.
Though posing in the buff is still something that might be considered beyond the pale in India, we were recently struck by the fact how old fashioned and “quaint” the whole Playboy culture seems 60 years after its invention. We had been invited to a birthday party at the Playboy Club in London and it all turned out to be terribly well behaved. As I told friends later, it was like being at the Gymkhana Club except that the waiters were better-looking and had fluffy tails. And a few of them could have been young Indian women trying to earn their way through college or just doing it for a lark. It was certainly not sleazy. But perhaps the magazine still retains its risqué image? We all remain puzzled, though, about Chopra being described as a “Bollywood legend” ...did we miss something?