Sharmila Tagore to speak at the International AIDS Conference

[Guest guest]

Bollywood star attends International AIDS Conference

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Bollywood royalty Sharmila Tagore to

speak about the plight of children orphaned by AIDS

TORONTO, Aug. 15 /CNW/ - Sharmila Tagore, one of India's most

renowned and adored film actresses, will attend the XVI

International AIDS Conference in Toronto to speak about her

experiences as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

On Thursday August 17, 2006 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, Sharmila Tagore

will speak about her experiences as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and

her visits with children orphaned by AIDS in India and Uganda.

Sharmila Tagore established herself as a popular Bollywood atress

with a role in the romantic musical Kashmir Ki Kali in 1964. In

1975, she was honoured with a prestigious National Film Award for

her performance in the film Mausam. Tagore attained international

fame with varied roles in over 80 films and continues to star in

films to this day. In April 2005, she was chosen to head the Indian

Film Censor Board.

Tagore's association with UNICEF began in 2003 with the Polio

eradication Initiative. Appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in

2005, she is now working to promote the cause of children orphaned

by and vulnerable to AIDS. As part of this role, Tagore has visited

several Indian states and Uganda to meet families headed by children

and to interact with affected children in their communities.

_______________________

Ireland, UNICEF Canada, Cell: (647) 203-7455 (24 hours per

day), nireland@...; Debra s, UNICEF Canada, (416) 482-

4444 ext. 869, ddouglass@...