Pop Star Rihanna’s Gestures Go Viral

She may be a pop diva on cloud nine, but Rihanna has shown that she can also be down to earth too. After shaking a leg and projecting her melodious voice in India for the first time in her career, and that too for the subcontinent’s royalty, the Barbadian surprisingly shrugged off all airs. 

Only on Friday, she took centre stage at the Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant pre-wedding festivities in Jamnagar with a garish outfit and show-offy aura. She dazzled viewers while singing “Diamonds” and ensured the audience’s cup runneth over with “Pour it Up”, while reportedly raking in between 5 million and 9 million USD for her performance.

But a few hours later, the "Good Girl Gone Bad" song singer revealed a most unexpected side to her persona. She showed up at the local airport in an unflashy car and emerged from it in a simple dressed-down garment with an Indian ghoonghat-style scalp veil. Then, she allowed for locals to collect around her for photo-ops.

Rihanna also patiently and generously posed for the paparazzi, pandering to their every request for the ideal stance and facial expression. But what really captured Indian hearts was what followed. She actually walked hand-in-hand with two lady security personnel... before bestowing them with the warmest of goodbye-hugs.

This modesty and display of genuine emotion has not surprisingly found favour with Indians online. “How cute! How she held the police woman and walked with her till the end”, posted one viewer, while another wrote, “Very, very sweet. Such a humble lady... (which other celebrity) takes pictures like this with camera men?” It looks like similar to Rihanna’s compatriot – the great West Indian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall – she knows how to bowl ’em over!