by Subhash K Jha

Last week Sameera took charge of girls from an orphanage in Gulabnagar and was attacked by property goons in the process.

"The response from all over the country was overwhelming ....corporate people, working -class citizens, even domestic servants offered support.

People from the middleclass were willing to dig into their pockets and give Rs 50 to help these kids. But I'll be honest with you. No one from the film industry called me. Not a single Bollywood person, though I know so many of them so well. It's strange.

Random people are coming forward to give these homeless kids breakfast, clothes. But not from film industry. Last time I saw this happening was during the torrential rains in Mumbai.

I'm so ashamed when the electronic medium asks names of people from the industry who came forward to help."

Apparently the only film person to call Sameera about the orphans was the Gandhi My Father director Feroz Abbas Khan.

But Sameera is undaunted. "My mom helps me with my charitable work. We've been supporting these orphanages on our own. At first I didn't want the media to be part of my work with these orphan girls. But when there was case of molestation at the orphanage I had to seek media help.

Now last week I had to face a mob fury. The girls were petrified. I'm glad the media were there to report how I was attacked. I've had an overwhelming response for help from across the country. Even my maid wanted to donate."

Sameera lives under fear of attack. "I now have police protection.I've relocated the girls to a builder-friend's home. But to have the girls from the age of 2 to 11 thrown out of their home on Independence Day...what kind of an independence have we achieved for the country's children and women?"

Sameera's best moments are now spent with these kids. "These girls are so bright and beautiful. One of them a green-eyed girl will give one day give Aishwarya Rai a run for her money."

Careerwise Sameera has her plate full. "I've just finished a comedy 123 with a new director Ashwini Dheer and Abbas-Mustan's Race. I think Sujoy Ghosh's Alladdin is stuck because of Sanjay Dutt's incarceration. But right now I'm consumed by looking after the orphanage kids. It's a bigger high than being applauded for my performance."