Shilpi Singh of Bhoomika Vihar was sure someone was playing a prank on her but it really was Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan on the other end of the call.
On Monday afternoon, 34-year-old Shilpi, director of an NGO that rehabilitates trafficking victims and campaigns against child marriage, received a call from the Red FM studio in Mumbai. The radio jockey told her Aamir Khan was about to speak to her.
An hour before, she had received a similar call from the FM channel when representatives told her she would soon be on a call with Aamir. Still, she thought the second call was a joke. Till Aamir, who is promoting his upcoming production Secret Superstar starring Dangal girl Zaira Wasim, came on.
"RJ Rishi Kapoor told me Aamir Khan was in the studio and wanted to speak to me. The next voice was Aamir's. He only said I have been selected as a secret superstar based on my work profile," Shilpi said on her 4-minute chat with the Bollywood superstar.
The call was part of a promotional campaign launched by Aamir to select people who were engaged in social causes but remain unknown to the world. The Telegraph has a copy of the audio clip of the conversation between Aamir and Shilpi.
Aamir is heard telling Shilpi she is the real superstar in the way she has been protecting the lives of others. He also promises to visit Patna soon, meet Shilpi and also invites her to Mumbai to meet him.
Shilpi was born in Katihar and her father Arun Kumar Singh started Bhoomika Vihar a year before her birth. After school in Katihar and graduation from Arvind Mahila College, she did MBA from Cybotech Campus in Patna.
"I come from a small town in Katihar and learned kathak which was not considered good in my society," she told Aamir. "If my father had not helped me, I would have also become a victim of child marriage."
Her father died on March 30, 2013, after which Shilpi took over and continued the anti-trafficking and anti-child marriage campaigns. Since 2013, Bhoomika Vihar has taught 1,000 girls for free, saved many from being trafficked and saved 100 girls from becoming child brides.
"When I received the call, I thought someone was playing a prank on me but when I heard his voice I realised it was none other than Aamir," Shilpi said. "When was talking to him, I was really nervous but I am happy I spoke to such a big star."
The Telegraph asked her what she expects next and Shilpi said: "The movie name suggests a secret, so I really do not know what will be their next step."
Secret Superstar is a story on dreams, aspirations and struggles of a teenager in a small town. The Aamir Khan Productions film, directed by debutant Advait Chandan, will release on October 19.
