Mumbai: Film critic Kamaal Rashid Khan (KRK) denied allegations brought by actor Ajay Devgn that he was paid by director-producer Karan Johar to bash Devgn’s Shivaay, and said, in fact, it was the actor who bribed him to criticise the director’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Devgn’s Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil both release on October 28 for Diwali.
On Thursday, Devgn shared an audio recording in which KRK is heard telling Shivaay producer Kumar Mangat that Johar paid him to tweet against Shivaay. The audio, however, has not be independently verified. It was recorded by Mangat.
In another post, he put blame on Mangat and Devgn star by writing, “Kumar+Ajay offered me money to bash #AeDilHaiMushkil as he is offering in the tape also but I refused. I told them that I will do it free.”
Later he tweeted, “People thinking that I called Kumar Mangat but not true. Actually he is close friend and he only called me and he called me many times before also.”
In a text to Indian Express, he wrote: “Karan has not paid me anything. Please note we both were talking about favouring on Twitter only, not about reviews. Nobody can buy my review, whoever is he.”
Johar has not commented on the matter,
Devgn, 47, released a statement, saying he demands an investigation “to clarify if Karan Johar was indeed involved in this”.
Devgn’s actress wife Kajol, a friend of Johar, has also reacted to the controversy.
She retweeted the audio link shared by Devgn and wrote: “Shocked.”
Both parties have a lot riding on their respective movies. Devgn makes a comeback to direction with Shivaay, which he has often said is his most ambitious project yet. Johar returns to directing after a four-year break with his Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Here is Devgn’s statement in full, as sent to Indian Express.
“I have been a part of the Indian film industry for the past 25 years and have been associated with over 100 films. My father was a professional action director and I have an emotional connection with this industry.
It therefore pains me to see that people like Kamaal R Khan are holding the film industry to ransom by spreading negativity about films to extort money from producers.
It is very sad that people from our own industry are supporting such elements and spoiling the ethos of the film industry.
I would strongly demand that this be thoroughly investigated by competent authorities to clarify if Karan Johar was indeed involved in this.”
