Why Indian actors won't joke (anymore)
AFP [ MONDAY, JULY 22, 2002 2:49:26 PM ]
CHENNAI: Indian movie stars were told on Monday not to crack jokes, sing aloud or flex their muscles while flying to Malaysia and Singapore this week, following an incident in which an Indian actress sparked a terror alert at a US airport.
The South Indian Actors Association advised its 200 film stars, among them celluloid "villains", to refrain from resorting to mimicry on their way to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to give a cultural performance.
"The villains ... have also been told not to flex their muscles or jokingly push around other members as it can raise the suspicion of airline crew," an official of the association said on condition of anonymity.
"All the members of the group will have a common dress code also," the official said. He said the behaviour code was drawn up because the association did not want to attract the attention of foreign security agencies who have been on alert following the September 11 attacks.
Last week, south Indian actress Samyuktha Verma and seven members of her entourage were questioned by US law enforcement agencies after a passenger on board their American Trans Air flight reported that they were indulging in "suspicious activity".
The actress and other members of the group, who were on their way to New York from Chicago for a cultural function, were seen passing notes, changing seats and mimicking some actors -- apparently as a rehearsal their roles in the event.
The aviation authorities in the United States were alerted and the plane was escorted to the airport by two military F-16s. Later they were released after being questionied.
Now movie officials are taking no chances. "Initially the plan was to take the whole group in one flight. But now the association has decided to split up the artistes into three or four groups," an official of the association said.
The cultural show is set for Kuala Lumpur on Friday and in Singapore the day after. Both cities are home to sizeable Indian populations, especially south Indians.