Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao have contracted swine flu and have been advised by doctors to stay at home for a week to ensure against the spread of H1N1 virus that they are carrying.
The actor himself revealed this to the gathering attending the at the Satyamev Jayate Water Cup Awards function held at Pune on Sunday night.
Aamir, who was to attend the function, skipped the event upon having been diagnosed with swine flu, Actor Shah Rukh Khan attended the event on behalf of Aamir, who had specially requested SRK to represent him at the function because of his “forced” absence.
“We are sad that we are not there at the function because of Swine Flu we have contracted and been advised to stay at home for a week,” the actor – flanked by his wife Kiran – said, over video footage that was played at the function.
In his elaboration, Aamir said: “Today is a very happy day for us. After one full year when time came for us to celebrate we have contracted a virus that spreads quickly, We have contracted H1N1 virus which people call it commonly as Swine Flu. The problem with swine flu is that wherever I go it will spread to others”.
“For one full week have been advised to confine ourselves to our home so that we do not contribute to the spread of the virus. That’s why we are not present with you there. We are sad that we are not there at the function,” the “Dangal” star said.
Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is a relatively new strain of an influenza virus that causes symptoms similar to the regular flu. It originated in pigs but is spread primarily from person to person.
Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nita Ambani were present at the function.
Shah Rukh Khan said he was happy to attend the function in place of Aamir, who he said had fabulous job by undertaking a water project in rural areas of the state facing drinking water shortage in the State.
Heaping praise on Aamir for stupendous work aimed at solving water problems in rural areas, Fadnavis said: “Aamir has proved what one can if one set his mind on something and executes it meticulously. The farmers who took part in the actor’s project also deserve rich praise”.
The chief minister minister announced that this year, the the BJP-led saffron alliance government’s flagship scheme “Jalyukt Shivar” to 100 more villages in the state in association with “Paani Foundation”.
It may recalled that in February this year, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and his “Satyamev Jayate” team on Wednesday joined a group of Industrialists in augmenting the BJP-led saffron alliance government’s flagship scheme “Jalyukt Shivar”, a water conservation programme that aims at making Maharashtra drought-free by 2019.
Paani Foundation, a not-for-profit company founded by actor Aamir Khan and director Kiran Rao, announced its partnership with the Maharashtra government to solve the water crisis in the state. The project, called ‘Satyamev Jayate Water Cup’, is aimed at solving the water through a people’s movement.
Apart from supporting the water through his NGO, Aamir is also expected to lend his voice to promote “Jalyukt Shivar”.
The Jalyukt Shivar project involves deepening and widening of steams, construction of cement and earthen stop dams, work on nullahs and digging of farm ponds. All these are being done at village level. The government is targeting 5,000 villages annually and aims at making 25,000 villages drought free by 2019.
On its part, the Pani Foundation announced that the first edition of the Water Cup will be restricted to one taluka each in three districts – Satara in western Maharashtra, Amravati in Vidarbha and Beed in Marathwada regions. The talukas are Koregaon (Satara), Warud (Amravati) and Ambajogai (Beed ).