She sparked a trail of controversies in her own country and came under fire. But that did not dowse the fire in the beauty from Afghanistan, Vida Samadzai, who was recently evicted from Bigg Boss Season 5.
Vida says sans the everyday bickering she enjoyed the show for the challenges it threw up. “It was an opportunity for me to show the world that I’m not interested in fights,” says the former Miss Afghanistan known for her red bikini controversy that led Afghan fundamentalists to issue a fatwa against her during the Miss Earth competition in 2003.
But that’s not the only reason for many in Kochi to remember her. The green-eyed lady with lovely curls caught the imagination of many during her visit to the city in 2007 along with Natalie, Miss Universe, and was seen motivating many youngsters taking part in the Miss Kerala contest.
About the red bikini incident, she says, “I wanted to spread the message that you should be ambitious enough to gain anything in life.” This five foot nine inch loves India. “The first time I came to India was as a child to see my dad who was doing a course at the Lucknow University,” recalls Vida.
Her bond with former Miss India Swetha Vijay, one of the contestants at Miss Earth, motivated her to come to Mumbai where she became a regular at fashion weeks and socialite gatherings. Controversies refused to leave her. On her way back to India from Cannes last year, she was refused entry into India on the suspicion that she was involved in some nefarious activities. “I’m not a person who would even attempt to kill a bird,” says a still shaken Vida.
Trained in acting by Hollywood director Erin Spicer, Vida tried her luck in Bollywood movies like Runaway: Love Among Gun Shots. A strong-willed lady, she works with Taabaar, an NGO, to help the orphans in Jaipur. “Whenever there is an IPL match in Jaipur, I make it a point to take them there,” says Vida who is the granddaughter of Zalmai Khan, a renowned politician in Afghanistan. “My mom often tells us about the Afghanistan of the 1970s and 80s when everyone had equal rights. I want to see my country regain its past glory,” says Vida who has also worked with Clinton Global Initiative for Women’s Rights in Afghanistan.