Abhishek and Aishwariya co-host amfAR gala with Sharon Stone

Bollywood’s royal couple host inaugural gala at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

The Brangelina of Bollywood, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, lent support to the effort to raise funds for the Foundation for AIDS Research Programme by hosting amfAR India’s inaugural gala in Mumbai. “We are honoured to be here and we both feel strongly about the disease [HIV]. It’s a matter of pride to raise funds for this cause,” Abhishek said, speaking at the fundraiser held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on Sunday.

Aishwariya, who looked stunning in an ivory-hue lehenga by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, said, “I am confident we will have several more to come in our country. I hope we all collectively raise funds, spread awareness and strengthen the force,” reported IANS. The high-profile couple are Indian co-chairs of the international foundation.

Basic Instinct actor Sharon Stone, amfAR’s Global Fundraising chair and the evening’s co-host, spoke highly of Aishwariya, saying, “It is very gracious of her [Aishwariya] to come here. I am looking forward to seeing the husband and wife. They are such generous people.”

Stone also looked forward to visiting India, stating that she was honoured to be able to support the foundation and help raise awareness of HIV/AIDs in a country that she loves.

The event boasted some of Hollywood and Bollywood’s finest. A-lister and Oscar winner Hilary Swank, Dimple Kapadia, Nargis Fakhri, designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, Shobhaa De, Sophie Choudhry, Shahzahn Padamsee, business woman Nita Ambani, socialite Natasha Poonawala and model Lisa Hayden turned up in their glittering best for the black-tie benefit, which included a cocktail reception, dinner and live auction.

American designer and Chairman of amfAR, Kenneth Cole, was also present for the inaugural event, while Indian designers Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani, and Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla showcased their collections at a Gold themed Fashion Show, followed by a high-energy performance by Ke$ha. The gala was just one of the organisation’s many international fundraisers, which uses the donations to bankroll the foundation’s AIDS research program, according to the Daily Mail.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2013.

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