British actor Orlando Bloom’s visit to India had its fair share of drama. The Pirates of the Caribbean star was deported from New Delhi airport on Saturday after his e-visa application was rejected, before an intervention from Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj enabled him to return the next day.

Soon after landing in the capital, Bloom, who had been invited to India by the Uttar Pradesh government, embarked on a trip to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. His companion – former Rajya Sabha member and ex-Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh – raised a few eyebrows. Singh, who reportedly requested Swaraj to help Bloom acquire a visa, has had a rather colourful political career.


Selfie time at the Taj Mahal.
Source: IANS 


He was instrumental in helping the United Progressive Alliance I government stay afloat after the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had pulled out over the Indo-US nuclear deal. He's equally well known for hobnobbing with celebrities and was said to be particularly close to Amitabh Bachchan. But he’s been maintained a rather low profile since being expelled from the Samajwadi Party in 2010 and being arrested for his alleged involvement in the cash-for-votes scam (he was subsequently discharged from the case).

His emergence from obscurity induced some humour on social media.