In March 1984, Indian celebrities, including disco and cabaret dancer Kalpana Iyer, screen villain Ranjeet, and Bappi Lahiri, arrived in Fiji for a much-anticipated performance. According to a report from March 12, over 350 fans greeted the entertainers at Nausori Airport, showering them with cheers and garlands.
The welcoming crowd had been waiting for more than four hours due to delays in Nadi, where the group had arrived and spent the night. Iyer expressed the significance of their Fiji visit, stating that it was important for them to leave with a positive reputation and the satisfaction of having entertained the audience.
She emphasized the collective effort required for a successful show, saying, “Everyone in the group is important, and their help is needed to make the show successful.” Iyer also mentioned the familiarity of Fiji’s culture, noting, “Fiji reminds me of home, you have the same food, and the language is spoken so well with a different accent.”
Feeling at home in Fiji, she added, “When I come to a place like Fiji, that is when I am proud to be an Indian. I am here to perform on stage, and I will do my best, and if I find time, I will try to see a little bit of Fiji.”