Livleen: She isn't a woman of no importance
DEEPA RAO

[16 Sep, 2003 TIMES NEWS NETWORK]

WHEN she walks, she creates her own music – the jingle of jhumkas and kadas, the swirl of her vibrant ghagra, the clinking of her heavy mirror work dupatta.

Livleen Sharma, India's original gypsy queen is a colourful vision with an even more colourful history to match. And as she sweeps down the corridors of the hotel, people can't help but stare. But then Livleen is very used to attracting attention because of her ‘different' looks.

“In Delhi, there have been times when people have hit my car so I would get down and they would click my picture! I'm always asked why I never wear anything but gypsy clothes and I feel like killing them - this is who I am!”

She's a multifaceted woman -singer and dancer, a banjaran married to a high profile Delhiite, a socialite (“Only people who hate me call me that,”)... and even if not for her vibrant personality, her joie de vivre, her loud laughter and politically incorrect statements make sure she'll never blend into the background.

Livleen is in town for her favourite cause – that of her fellow Banjaras. “You know how many people I have? More than eight crore! For the next six months I'll focus on Andhra tribals. My aim is to implement basic facilities like pumps and emergency medical care units in every tanda in the state.” She adds, “I was an orphan who was picked up from the dustbin. I couldn't even go to school; I came up from nothingness and I want my people to come up too.”

While she's here, her story might just be immortalised on the Telugu screen. “I've had many offers but either they make the script like the Bold and the Beautiful or very sad and romantic. But a top Telugu director might take up the film,” she says mysteriously. Livleen still performs at exclusive weddings and functions across the world.

In fact, she has inspired many of Bollywood's recent raunchy numbers like Shilpa Shetty's UP Bihar Lootne and Chholi Ke Peeche. She adds, “Sanjay Leela Bansali wanted me to do an item number in Bajirao Mastani, but to be honest I photograph badly!”

Meanwhile, a book that Livleen's written – Woman of No Importance – will come out soon. “It's a political satire – but you know, Indians can't understand satire and they can't even laugh at themselves.”

(With Thanks from "Times News Network")