Oprah Winfrey cancels India trip due to flu scare

TV show hostess Oprah Winfrey has cancelled her hush-hush trip to India (she was to arrive yesterday in Goa at 7 am and then go to Hampi from there). Oprah was scheduled to travel with Mallika Sherawat, who has been away in the US for the last couple of months. Incidentally, Oprah has an account on social networking website, Twitter, which Mallika is also a member of now.

Says a source close to Mallika, "Oprah Winfrey met Mallika in Los Angeles and they got along very well. The actress spoke to the chat show host about her next release Hissss, the post-production of which is currently on in LA."

It was during one of their chats that Oprah spoke of her fascination for the monkey god Hanuman and how she had read about his strength and valour. Mallika, in turn, spoke to Oprah about Hanuman's birthplace (Hampi in Karnataka). The actress knows about the place as she shot there for Jackie Chan's The Myth there."

Winfrey expressed her desire to visit Hampi and Goa and the actress offered to take her there. Everything was finalised and while Mallika landed in Goa yesterday, Oprah, who was to come in a private jet had to change her plans at the last minute because of the swine flu scare across USA."

Oprah was advised by her agents and the American consulate not to travel any-where out of the country as she might not be able to come back on time as travelling was becoming restricted because of the flu.
The source adds, "Though Mallika is disappointed at the turn of events she's still quite hopeful that when all the hullabaloo about the swine flu dies down, Oprah will be able to come to visit her in India soon."