When ’embarrassed’ Lilette Dubey had to ask Richard Gere to take photographs of her with fans: ‘People didn’t recognise him’

Actor Lillete Dubey, who is known for her work in popular Hindi films such as Kal Ho Naa Ho and Baghban, has appeared in a few Hollywood projects as well. And in a recent podcast, Lillete recalled her experience of working with Hollywood star Richard Gere in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. A part of the film was shot in Jaipur, and Lillete recalled how Richard just walked around in the markets of the city with her, and helpfully took photos when her fans wanted pictures with her.

Lillete described Richard as a “wonderful co-actor” who is a “very warm and affection person.” She actor shared with Cyrus Broacha on his podcast that she was once stepping out to go to the market in Jaipur when Richard asked if he could come along. “I said, ‘But it’s Jaipur and it’s the bazaar, you are going to get swamped with people’. He said, ‘Honey, I know how to fly under the radar’. He put his cap on and his glasses on and everything, and he came with me to the bazaar in Jaipur,” she said, and added, “But the truth is, a lot of people didn’t recognise him because they don’t see his movies.”

Lillete recalled that when they reached the market, people recogned her started walking up to her for photos, and in the middle of all this, Richard helpfully took photos for them. “They said ‘Sir, aap le lenge?’ He said, ‘Yeah, of course’. And I was so embarrassed. I said, ‘Nahi aap jaante nahi yeh kaun hain (You don’t know who he is)’. So they said, ‘Kaun hain yeh? (Who is he?)’ I said ‘Bahut bade Hollywood ke star hain (He is a big Hollywood star).’ ‘Acha Sir aapke sath bhi lenge baad mein. Aap ek Madam ke sath pehle le lijiye (Sir, we’ll take one with you later. You please click us with Madam).”