Big B and family meet Oprah Winfrey

 

Talk show icon's welcome was fit for a queen as eight visually challenged boys sung to her; later attended party organised by Parmeshwar Godrej

In the last few months, Mumbai has opened its arms to many Hollywood celebrities -- from matinee idol Tom Cruise, to hotel heiress Paris Hilton. Adding another star-studded feather to its cap yesterday, the city hosted the First Lady of American television, Oprah Winfrey.

And the international talk show queen's welcome was nothing short of a welcome fit for royalty. The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Colaba, where the talk show host is staying for a day, made her greeting unforgettable.

Apart from the procedural garland and diya greeting, Oprah was also ushered into the hotel with a Sanskrit song sung by eight visually challenged boys from Happy Home, a school for the visually challenged.

According to sources, Oprah was visibly moved by the song and later asked for the meaning of the lyrics of the song.

Meher Banaji, the director of the home, said, "The boys sang this beautiful song Swagatam and Oprah was clearly touched by the song. While the boys sung, Oprah was rapt in attention and later even asked us for the meaning of the lyrics."

Banaji added that the boys were accompanied with a tabla player also from the home. "She spoke to the boys, who are all aged 8-16. They were very excited to meet her and were thoroughly impressed by her."

Keen to meet Beti-B

Later, Oprah made her way to socialite Parmeshwar Godrej's house where a party was organised in her honour.

Sources say the get-together is a formal sit-down dinner that is off-limits to the media and will see several B-town celebs flocking to meet the television royal.

It was earlier rumoured that the Bachchans were to host a private dinner for her at their residence in Juhu, but plans were later changed to Godrej's abode as Oprah had expressed a desire to meet a few socialites in addition to Bollywood stars.

But it seems that beti-B is on Oprah's mind as she was keen to meet Abhishek, Aishwarya and their newborn at their home. Abhi-Ash were Oprah's guests on her chat show two years ago.

This is Oprah's first visit to India and she is also expected to make an appearance at the Jaipur Literature Festival scheduled for later this week.

Oprah's girls graduate

Before Oprah made her way to India, she was in South Africa to attend her school's first ever graduation ceremony on January 14-15.

The media mogul set up the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Johannesburg in 2007 to provide education for disadvantaged females.

The institution held its first graduation ceremony for 72 students on Saturday and Winfrey was there to congratulate the youngsters on their success.

Celebs tweet on Oprah's visit

Tonight was dinner at the Godrej House wid Oprah Winfrey. Nice 2 see her wear a beautiful Sari :-) Also nice 2 see Ash out after so long
-- Preity Zinta

Looking forward to meeting the Big O (Oprah) tonight! She is the most amazing, inspiring, influential woman on Planet Earth. Welcome to Mumbai!
-- Shobha De