Now a mach fixing scandal linked to Bollwood starlet.Bollywood is tired of taking the blame for every other controversy. This time, it was dragged in a recent Sunday Times (UK) report alleging that a Bollywood actor played honeytrap in a match-fixing scam spanning Test matches, Twenty20s, IPL and county matches in England. The actor’s picture was all over the front page.Seduction’s the name of game, actor in fixing scam
splashed across the paper’s front page with her face blurred and identity withheld due to legal reasons. The fraternity feels it’s unfair to show the industry in a bad light due to one such unproved allegation.
Director Mahesh Bhatt:
“These things are based on assumptions. One needs to have concrete evidence, else these are baseless conversations. Bollywood is too big to be tarnished by one person,” says actor Neha Dhupia. “Any association of this sort is not good for the industry’s image. Before Bollywood, there is a need to clean up the game first,” says director Rohan Sippy.
Others feel the girl in question may be a small-time starlet. “I’m sure this is not a top actor. Stars don’t need to do this stuff. This could be a struggler who met someone (a bookie or player) sometime, but you can’t point a finger without revealing the identity of the girl in the picture,” says filmmaker Kumar Mangat. Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar adds, “We need to know whether the female involved is actually an actor, an aspiring actor, a starlet or someone who just has given an audition somewhere. It is wrong to generalise.”
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai: too, is miffed with the international media for maligning the industry’s image, since the follow up reports to the Sunday Times’ operation has led to a spate of online stories recalling the reported naming of actors such as Neetu Chandra and Veena Malik in past match fixing allegations. The allegations were never proved.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, however, holds a different opinion: “I won’t be surprised if this girl actually belongs to Bollywood. There is nothing unusual about it. Cricket is a multi-million dollar industry and people with vested interests can use Bollywood connections.” The picture of the actor used by The Sunday Times resembles an online wallpaper of an actor whose claim to fame is a box office flop with Sunny Deol.
Actress denies charges
Nupur Mehta says she never thought the call that she “jokingly answered on Saturday” would turn into an international sports controversy.
Two days later on Monday morning, she recognised a screen grab from an item song she had done in the 2006 film Jo Bole So Nihaal as the picture that The Sunday Times, London, used along with a report on match-fixing.
Nupur does not like to be called a Bollywood “starlet” and prefers to introduce herself as Miss India finalist and an international model.
“Not just a model, I see myself as a role model for young girls who aspire to make a mark on the global modelling scene. I am very conscious of what I do and would never walk on such a path (match-fixing),” she said.
Nupur, with a two-film CV — Jo Bole So Nihaal and Abracadabra — fielded some questions on the controversy this afternoon.
Q: When did you first get to know that your name was involved in the match-fixing scandal?
The first time I heard about it was when I got a call from a journalist from London on Saturday. I thought it was someone playing a prank on me so I was very flippant while answering his questions. This morning when news channels started flashing the pictures, I realised it was me! And I was shocked.
Q: Where do you think The Sunday Times got that picture from?
It’s a grab from a song that I had done for Jo Bole So Nihaal in 2006…. Everyone knows I wore this costume in my movie with Sunny Deol. I got to know about the picture when my fans from the UK started calling me since morning. What is the point of morphing my face if it was a representation picture of a Bollywood starlet? People could recognise that it was me from the costume. It is from a famous Bollywood movie.
Q: Why do you think they have used your picture?
I don’t understand. I am in no way connected to match fixing or any bookie syndicate…. I am a clean person. I don’t know any cricketer in person. I am shocked how my name has surfaced in this controversy.
Q :You aren’t friendly with any cricketer?
I am a huge sports buff and I love cricket. But I don’t know any cricketers personally. I have never interacted with any cricketer ever.
Q: Have you attended IPL parties?
I have never been to any IPL party. Though I have watched IPL matches live…. I am a clean person.
Q: Are you planning any legal action?
I am going to speak with my lawyers tomorrow and decide. But I am not going to let them get away with this. They have not only maligned me but all of Bollywood and India. It is my right to take action against them. Even to use the image, it is illegal.
Q: Many believe that you are using this controversy for publicity. Do you think this will help your Bollywood career?
I am not thinking of that at the moment. I do believe that whatever happens, happens for the best.
Q: How has your family reacted to this controversy?
They are also shocked. My parents are in Delhi and they can’t believe that I am being dragged into something like this. But they know that I am a clean person and I would never do any wrong.
Q: Would you be open to reality shows like Bigg Boss in the future?
Yes, of course. But I hope that people will not associate me with just this controversy in the future. There is a lot more to me that the world has to discover.