Soha Ali Khan calls on Kolkata to cheer youngsters

Kolkata : Bollywood beauty Soha Ali Khan was in town on Thursday to cheer on the Kolkata finalists of a nationwide ideating competition for youngsters.

?It?s very reassuring to see so many bright ideas coming out of such young people,? she said, handing over the prizes for Kolkata finals of ?Idea?s for India Challenge?, conceived by ITC?s Classmate, the stationary brand she endorses.

The top place for the day went to 15-year-old Soumyasekhar from the Apeejay School. He will now join 9 peers from other cities to compete in the national finals in Delhi.

Soumyasekhar?s idea of connecting remote villages through basic IT hardware to connect elite doctors from cities with rural patients was among the several that were presented before the judges on Thursday.

By promoting such ideas and discussions, the competition seeks to recognise the ideas of the youth and their potential to transform India?s tomorrow, the organisers said.

Reaching out to 25 lakh students across 30 cities, 500 schools and 200 colleges, the challenge drew over 60,000 applications.

For Soha, the journey and her encounters with the students have been the best part, she said.

?Most of my favourite conversations happen with young people. These kids have amazing ideas,? she said.

?Even though India is a pretty challenging place to live in, solutions for a lot of our problems come from within the youth. I see lots of potential in these ideas and innovations,? said the blue-blooded beauty.

The petite actress said she would ‘love to do more Bengali movies’, after her stints in two Bengali movies early in her career and was looking for good offers.

When asked about her plans on tying the knot with beau Kunal Khemu, Soha played the question quite wittily and passed on the ball to brother Saif Ali Khan?s court.

?There are people in my family who are standing ahead of me in that line. My sister and my brother have to get married first and only then my turn can come,? said the Dil Kabaddi-girl.