British poster-boy Orlando Bloom was denied entry to India at Delhi airport and was forced to return to the UK immediately after he landed in the southern subcontinent without a visa, despite being invited by Indian government officials.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor had been invited to India by Chief Minister of the Uttar Pradesh region, Akhilesh Yadav, as part of a drive to generate more tourism, but things turned sour when Bloom was reportedly turned away upon arrival at Delhi’s Gandhi International Airport because of “deficiencies in his electronic tourist visa”
Once the Indian authorities learned of the mix-up, Bloom was at last able to enter India, after the external affairs ministry intervened and gave him a special visa causing him to make his second long haul trip to Delhi in two days.
A senior airport official said: “The arrogant behavior of Immigration officials has dented India’s image globally as they deliberately deported him even when they had other options to allow him to stay here.”
