The 82-year-old knows his job. It comes from the confidence of doing it for 23 years in many countries. Carter and his wife Rosalynn have for long been volunteers of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit housing organisation that is building 100 simple, affordable homes for the needy in Pathan, near Lonavla.

Standing behind Carter is the proud house owner, Sadhiya Aziz Sheikh of Varsuli village. She hopes to soon move in with her husband — a driver in a car rental company — their two children and her in-laws. “We were introduced to Carter saab before the work began. I wanted to take his autograph but he has been busy, so I will do it later,” she says.

The only interruption to the work going on is provided by the project’s celebrity volunteers. A crowd is milling around former Australian cricketer Steve Waugh. There is a bit of crowd frenzy near Brad Pitt too. They may be tucked away in a small hill station but people here have watched enough Hollywood movies to recognize the handsome actor. Pitt just avoids the media and quietly goes about his work.

Priscilla Deegan, 25, a volunteer from Ireland, says: “I just want to make a difference to the lives of these people. That is why I have come.” Another volunteer, Sumit Mehdiratta of Whirpool, says: “We Indians should get out of our middle class bubble and do our bit for the poor.”