Mumbai: Actor Celina Jaitly, the goodwill ambassador of United Nations’ Free and Equal Campaign, says her debut single on the rights of homosexuals gave her a unique opportunity to help the community.
AdvertisementCelina, 32, a leading voice for the rights of the LGBT community in India, has crooned legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar’s upbeat number, Uthe Sabke Qadam, from the 1979 romantic comedy, Baton Baton Mein. It has been reworked by Neeraj Sridhar of Bombay Vikings. “This is the first ever United Nations endeavour for a Bollywood styled campaign. It was for a cause. I have sung and starred in the video and it is a beautiful story for LGBT issues,” says Celina.
After the song’s official launch, it will be available on the radio. Celina, a former Miss India, who was on a sabbatical after welcoming twins Winston and Viraaj with husband Peter Haag in 2012, says music has always held a special place in her life.
“Singing has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. I come from a family where music and singing has been integral. My aunts are masters in music,” she says.
Assuming the role of a wife and mother has given Celina a sense of fulfillment and has also filled in for the loneliness she felt as an actor. “Life as an actor is very lonely. Now my life is fulfilled. I have a family, a husband and adorable sons. I have my career, family and I am in a good place. It took many long lonely and desolate years to come to this place in a demanding profession,” she says.
Celina will return to the big screen with 'No Entry 2', the sequel to her 2005 hit comedy that also starred Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Esha Deol.
“They are still working on the script. All I can say is that all of us have double roles. It is going to be funny,” says Celina, who adds that she didn’t miss acting during her hiatus.
“I did not miss it (acting). I was continuing to do my endorsements. In fact I was shooting for two months after my delivery and also till six months of pregnancy. So, the break was not more than six months,” she says.
