Priyanka Chopra: Homecoming

Jamshedpur, Dec. 3: When the Mumbai-Delhi-Patna-Ranchi Indian Airlines flight touches down at the Birsa Munda Airport in the state capital just before noon tomorrow, one “very glamorous” passenger will eclipse all her co-passengers.

Meet Priyanka Chopra, former Miss World, now a reputed model and a promising Mumbai star. It will be the first “homecoming” for the 20-year-old girl from the steel city, after winning the coveted crown in London in December 2000.

Priyanka, who was born into this world at the maternity ward of Tata Main Hospital, spent the first six years of her life at Adityapur, the industrial hub of the steel city, before moving to Lucknow and then to the US. She had visited Adityapur few months before the Miss World pageant.

Priyanka’s two-day visit would be occupied in spending a few hours at her relatives’ place at Ashok Nagar, Ranchi, before proceeding to her beloved grandfather’s residence at Adityapur from Ranchi later tomorrow evening. She would be accompanied by her mother, Madhu Malti and aunty, Chandra Malti.

“We are trying to seek an appointment with chief minister Babulal Marandi. It will be a courtesy call as we want Prinyka to spend some time with the state’s first chief minister,” said Priyanka’s grandfather, A.K. Akhouri, while speaking to The Telegraph. Her grandfather is rushing to Ranchi early tomorrow morning to receive his “little one” and his two daughters.

In the city, the grandfather is trying to organise Priyanka’s visit to the Sonari-based Bharat Sevashram Sangh, Cheshire Home and Beldih Kalibari.

“Of course, she will be meeting the press formally,” Akhouri said. Also on the cards, are trips and get-together with old friends with whom she had spent a few years in the city. “Anita Patel of TMH, Sheba Pillai are good friends of my daughters. And their sons and daughters too have good relations.

“Surely Priyanka would be meeting her old chums,” Akhouri added. How does the grandfather feel about the celebrity's visit? “Like every grandfather feels proud when their little ones come to visit and I am no exception,” said Akhouri. He added: “Priyanka is my grand daughter first and a celebrity afterwards.”

The former Miss World’s trip to Adityapur was planned about two months ago. Initially, she and her mother wanted to spend the New Year’s eve at the industrial town. But the trip was rescheduled at the last moment due to Priyanka’s prior engagements in Mumbai.

“She was eagerly looking forward to this trip. She had personally told me that she wanted to take few days off from her hectic schedule and relax at our Adityapur residence. Hence, I advised her to come on the New Year’s eve stay for a week. She liked my suggestions and even agreed to them. But what to do, as her plans had to be rescheduled,” Priyanka’s grandfather said.