Bollywood actress Preity Zinta took to Facebook on Tuesday night to clear the air regarding her motives behind filing a case against her former boyfriend and business partner Ness Wadia.
In an elaborate 1,200-plus worded post, she said there was no hidden agenda behind her actions and that her motive was limited to self-preservation.
Wadia has denied the allegations.
The pair, who co-own the IPL team King’s XI Punjab, reportedly began dating in 2005 and broke up in 2009.
“I have never lied in the past and do not lie when it suits me or is convenient. I am a responsible citizen of this country and my only fault is that I am a woman who reached a breaking point after constantly being abused, threatened and humiliated at work by someone who once was very dear to me,” said Zinta in the post.
The 39-year-old actress filed a case against her business partner Wadia on June 13 stating he abused, threatened and outraged her modesty during an IPL match in Wankhede stadium on May 30. Since then, her action and her reason for bringing the matter to the police has been scrutinised and subject to wild speculations.
From the outset, she tackled the question of why she reported the personal matter to police.
“Personal matter ? Seriously ? For the record this relationship was ended by me in 2009 and I don’t ever recall having gone to the police on any personal matter irrespective of what happened then. But now it’s been six years since the break up so this is not a personal matter,” said Zinta, using capital letters at various places for emphasis. She then went on to obliterate the allegation that she had taken on Wadia for financial reasons, claiming that she had paid Rs50 million (Dh3 million) during the IPL bid and also loaned the same amount to Wadia.
“To be fair to him he did pay me back a couple of months later [without any premium], so [I] hope the money theory is put to [an] end once and for all. I have never taken anything from anyone now or ever in the past as I have a lot of self respect and pride myself for being self made and not motivated by other people’s money. Instead, whenever I could help him in my capacity I did. The Go Air commercial was done completely free of cost by me and the money that I earned on the TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati was also donated by me for the Wadia Children hospital,” said Zinta.
She also reasoned with all those who thought that her actions were to garner some “cheap publicity”.
“No one wants to be involved in something like this this for cheap publicity as this is more humiliating then something to be proud of, especially if you are a very private and self respecting person. I have been in this film industry since 1998 and have been part of the biggest blockbusters in the past. From best actress awards to a bravery award I have won them all so please give me a break! I don’t need publicity, especially cheap publicity,” said Zinta. She also added that her disappearance to the United States soon after filing the complaint was to honour work commitments.
Another speculation doing the rounds is that her complaint stemmed from a fight that broke out about between the partners over seats at the IPL VIP enclosure. Rumours suggested that Wadia was miffed with Zinta when he learnt that the seats set aside for his mother were taken by Zinta and her friends.
“Fight for seats: really? 50 seats and a V.I.P air-conditioned box [35 seater] was there, yet me and my friends sitting on six seats becomes an issue? All through the IPL I have given almost all my seats to the players families so taking over seats at all games is a completely wrong accusation and disrespecting anyone’s mother is out of the question as I might forget my name but never my manners,” said Zinta.
Another theory that cropped was that Zinta was jealous that Wadia had found a new partner. To that, she responded: “Life moves on, people move on and so have I, and happily so. I firmly believe and live by the principle that the windscreen is always larger than the rear-view mirror.”
She added that her motives were largely dictated by her belief that she will never tolerate aggressive behaviour.
“Why did I file a F.I.R with the police ? Because after several warnings over the years I was left with no other option… The whole point of this is that violent physical or aggressive behaviour should not be tolerated by rich or poor, man or woman, celebrity or not,” said Zinta. She then ended her statement with a resolute: “I rest my case”.
