“I dare anyone to prove I had said anything after my arrest” – Shweta Basu Prasad

By Subhash K. Jha -

November 3, 2014 - 2:07 PM IST

“I dare anyone to prove I had said anything after my arrest” – Shweta Basu Prasad

"There was no businessman, no politician in my room when the raid happened... I dare anyone to prove that I actually made those comments about being forced into prostitution that were attributed to me," says the very articulate and spirited Shweta Basu Prasad.

Shweta, lately out of rescue home where she spent two months after an over-sensationalized raid in a posh hotel in Hyderabad, rubbishes the quotes that were attributed to her after her arrest.

“I dare anyone to prove I had said anything after my arrest” – Shweta Basu Prasad

In the statement that was extensively circulated, fake as it now shockingly and immorally turns out to be, Shweta was quoted as saying, 'I have made wrong choices in my career, and I was out of money. I had to support my family and some other good causes. All the doors were closed, and some people encouraged me to get into prostitution to earn money. I was helpless, and with no option left to choose, I got involved in this act. I'm not the only one who faced this problem, and there are several other heroines who have gone through this phase.'

Shweta says she never made the above remarks. "The quotes were concocted on my behalf and circulated everywhere on every channel, in every newspaper and on all websites. How could I say anything when I was not around? I was in custody. I wasn't allowed to speak to my mother and father, then how would I speak to the media?"says the actress.

Shweta's legal team has tracked down a leading newspaper in Hyderabad as the source of origin for those concocted quotes. The sternest of legal action would be taken against the perpetrators of this falsification. Says Shweta, "We've tracked down the quotes to a newspaper in Hyderabad. And I am taking the strongest legal action possible."

Defamation and criminal cases are being filed against the paper. Says Shweta, "This made-up melodramatic statement has really damaged my reputation. It suggests that I made a comment on other actresses and their lifestyle. Why would I do that? And why would I say that doors were shut on me? Cinema has been my life and breath from the age of 10. Cinema is my identity. I'd never defame the industry. And why would it disown me?"

Shweta says she has no complaints against the film fraternity. "I've friends in the film industry. I am well-connected. I've been auditioning for roles even when this (the arrest) happened. I've spent 3 1/2 years of my life making a documentary on Hindustani classical music. I turned down roles after my first Tamil film as a leading lady was a hit because I wanted to focus on my documentary. Now that it's in post-production I want to concentrate on my acting. So I want to know which doors were being closed? Such shallow emotions and vocabulary! Any sane person would have seen it's made up. I can't understand how it was used everywhere as my statement."

Another report in a leading paper says Shweta was let out of the rescue home because her life was in danger. The report quotes a source as saying, "Clearly, the people involved in this 'business' are extremely influential. They are worried that if she is in the remand home for too long, out of their reach, she might reveal their names and put them in trouble. If she is outside, they may be able to prevail upon her to keep mum."

Laughing at the above report, Shweta says, "Who are these sources talking about my life being in danger? Please, can we tone down the theatrics? And what names would I spill? When I was arrested and detained for interrogation the police asked me the names of Tollywood actresses who might be involved. I didn't even know many of their names. Why should I make comments on other actresses?"

Shweta is back and ready to plunge into her acting career. "I want to move on now. My parents have suffered enough. I want to know what grave crime I committed? And why was a section of the media having so much fun at our expense? We as a nation enjoy watching suffering. We are a sadistic people. I want to ask the journalist who made up this statement: how much do you know about me and my family?"

Tags : Shweta Basu Prasad