Christmas is a special time for Celina Jaitely, especially this year after winning the Best Actress award at the Cairo Film Festival for her film Love Has No Language. She talks to CS about why this festival of giving holds a special place in her heart and her little contribution to society:


WHO: Celina Jaitely
WHAT: Speaks on her initiatives and Christmas
WHERE: Her residence

The real me
People have several different perceptions of me u2013 they like to think of me in a manner that suits them the best. But as my brother says, 'Opinion is like an ass-hole. Everybody has one.' I tend to care very little about it. There are too many goals to score and only one lifetime to do it all! I am ruled by my heart and have no other option but to follow what it says. The love and support of my brother and my parents mean the most. I'm a believer and have a lot of faith in the person I am. That's what keeps me going!

Up in cause
I am the fifth generation of a family that has been serving in the defence forces. My mother, a psychologist by profession, used to counsel the wives of army officers who had lost their husbands to wars. I am simply following the tradition of dedicating a part of one's self to a cause that concerns all. It is what makes me sleep well at night. Gay rights and animal rights are two of the issues that engage me the most emotionally. They provide me with the platform to make a difference, in whatever small way I can. I am not the one to raise a cry about problems and do nothing about finding solutions. So if I can sensitise a friend towards people with alternative sexualities, I will do it.

Help at home
I love playing the piano. Apart from cooking, which I enjoy, it's so much fun to invent different kinds of salads. My cousins insist I do their make-up for a special party that they have to dash to. And when I am not travelling, I am running around, trying to trace my lost clothes that are usually found in their cupboards!

X'mas spirit
During the '62 Sino-India war, my nana who was serving in the army, went missing. The Government of India declared him dead. It was Christmas time, and I remember my nani, in her resolute voice, affirm to all family members that he was going to come back. And sure enough, two months later, he was there with us! Christmas has come to mean a lot more for me ever since!