Lata: 'Gere said Indians are sitting on a volcano'

Richard Gere was in Mumbai recently to enlist Lata Mangeshkar's help to spread the message of AIDS awareness in India. The legendary singer speaks about her encounter with the Hollywood star:

I was on my way to Pune when I was told that Richard Gere wanted to meet me in Mumbai. I knew who he was -- I have seen his films. My favourite is Pretty Woman.

So I came to Mumbai to meet him.

At his hotel room, his secretary left us alone to talk. He asked me lots of questions about my career, how long I had been singing, etc. He then spoke about himself. At the end of our conversation, I presented him with some of my CDs. He hadn't heard my songs. I told him he would not be able to appreciate my songs without knowing Hindi. Westerners only appreciate our instrumentalists like Pandit Ravi Shankar. He asked me if I liked Western pop music. I told him I don't.

Then he said he wanted me to use my voice to spread awareness about AIDS. What he told me about the rapidly spreading implications of the HIV virus had me extremely concerned. I was surprised to know that there is a medicine that reduces the chances of a pregnant HIV-infected woman delivering an infected baby by 50 percent.

I told him that in India AIDS is still a disease to be spoken only in hushed voices, if spoken at all. What frightens me the most is that an innocent, healthy man can die if he is given infected blood by an undisclosed HIV-infected donor. People who hide the disease never think of what they are doing to their family members, specially their wives and to society at large.

Richard Gere scared me when he said Indians are sitting on a live volcano that can erupt any day. He told me to think about it seriously.

Do you know, even disposable syringes aren't foolproof? That is why many doctors prefer to get their disposable syringes from abroad rather risk getting used and recycled stuff from our country. At my hospital [Dinanath Mangeskhar Hospital] in Pune, we don't have any AIDS patients. I know of cases where women have been infected by HIV through their husbands. There are so many myths about the disease in our country. Ordinary people believe one can get AIDS by drinking water from a glass used by an HIV patient. It is time for celebrities to seriously create AIDS awareness through television and newspapers.

Richard Gere told me, ‘People would listen to you the minute they see you. The message will be delivered effectively.'

It was an unforgettable afternoon for me. I took photographs of our meeting together. You know he was wearing a simple shirt and a pair of jeans when he met me. On his wrist, there was a Tulsi mala which he probably uses for his Buddhist chanting. I presented him with a Buddha statue.

I am sorry to say our celebrities aren't as willing to lend themselves to social causes. I am extremely happy to use my voice to create AIDS awareness.