Swaraj’s prompt intervention sorts out the mess.
By Sreekanth A Nair
Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom was deported to the UK from Delhi airport as he arrived without a visa.
But the timely intervention of India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj solved the issue. Bloom was allowed to visit India again.
Bloom came to India to attend a state event organized by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and to visit the Taj Mahal. Former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh who invited Bloom.
Bloom had applied for an e-visa and he arrived in Delhi at 1.30 am on Saturday on the presumption that his visa application would be granted by that time. But his application got rejected and he was deported back to the UK at 4 am.
Meanwhile, Amar Singh came to know about the incident and brought it to the attention of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. She promptly took necessary steps to rectify the matter and Bloom was granted a visa.
The Hindustan Times quoted sources saying, “the minister asked the foreign secretary to speak to the Indian High Commissioner in London to issue a tatkal (urgent) visa to the British actor so that he could attend the state function.”
Reports say that London airport officials allowed him to board the flight without knowing the fact that his visa application had got rejected. Bloom said that everything was the result of a simple misunderstanding.
However, Bloom finally attended the function in Uttar Pradesh, a party organized by Amar Singh and he also paid a visit to the Taj Mahal.
Bloom said that all the confusion and trouble was worth it, after visiting the Taj Mahal.
ScoopWhoop quoted him saying, “It is such an amazing building. I feel like I’ve just experienced one of the seven wonders of the world.”
Bloom is well-known for his roles in the films Pirates of The Caribbean and Lord of the Rings.