Kasauli: Actor Kabir Bedi was refused entry into the Kasauli Club on Friday because he wore a shirt without a collar. Collared shirts are mandatory under the dress code of the Kasauli Club, which is 135 years old.
Bedi had arrived for the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival when the incident happened. "I went back and changed because I have respect for the festival. If I was coming for a drink, I would have walked away," he told the Times of India.
"It feels a little ridiculous that over 60 years of our Independence people wearing shirts without collars are not allowed in," he added.
Col Devinder Singh, executive secretary of the Kasauli Club, defended the action and pointed out that the dress code had been circulated in advance. He said that it was the responsibility of the festival organisers to ensure that the code was followed.
Former Indian cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi also was initially turned away from the Club for the same reason. But he revealed later that another guest had intervened and helped him gain entry.
The Khushwant Singh Literary Festival is taking place in this Himachal Pradesh hill station from October 9-11.
