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After shocking the nation with news of her involvement in a sex trade
scandal, the once child wonder Shweta Basu Prasad was sent into a
remand home for 2 months. Although the Makdee actress was given a
clean chit by the Hyderabad High Court, she still suffers from the
after effect of the media back lash . In response to the outrage,
Prasad shared her point of view on the scenario in an open letter to
the media. Here is what the actress had to say:
Dear, Members of Media,
I grew up admiring some great journalists and reporters who, some
times report even live from war-torn borders, natural disaster sites,
terror attacked locations, etc. without hesitating a bit. These heroes
inspired me to pursue my degree in Mass Media and Journalism degree
too. I always thought, ‘Wow! These guys, the media, actually risk
their lives to bring us the truth’. And boom! You create a mess in my
very life. Well done.
I understand that everything was a chain of reaction and versions of
the incident with several mis-leading stories were picked up along
with my………..wait, NOT MY ‘statement!’, which said:
“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 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 am not the only one who faced this problem,
and there are several other heroines who have gone through this
phase.”
Seriously?? Whoever you are, who imagined this statement, were you
smoking funny cigarettes at work? Who talks like that? This sounds
like a dialogue from some 80s Bollywood film. And why so many ‘and’ in
that statement, go back to school amateur!
Thankfully my family, my friends and my circle of people didn’t
believe this statement. They know I do not speak like that. But, for
the rest of India or anyone, anywhere on planet, for the last time:
THIS IS NOT MY STATEMENT!
The problem with our society is, as long as I was given sympathy and
everyone went ‘awwww’, ‘poor girl’, ‘so sad’ and so on, everybody was
supporting me. But, as soon as people understand that they got carried
away by a false statement and a girl of 23 can be strong and can stand
on her own feet without any sympathies, the society feels that she is
lying?? What’s my fault if the news were the way they were? I cannot
force anyone to like or respect me. These happen naturally. What
happened was beyond my control.
After my detainment, I went straight to the rescue home where I stayed
for 59 and a half days. (60th day, I came home), then where and how
did I give a statement to media? My phone was confiscated, I made few
last calls to Maa and few other close friends. I had absolutely no
access to newspapers, television, internet or radio for those 2
months. I had no clue what was going on outside Prajwala Rescue Home,
Mehboob Nagar (outskirts of Hyderabad). Although I had a lovely time
there teaching kids Hindi, English and Hindustani Classical vocals. I
always do and I always will count those children in my prayers. I also
read 12 books in those 2 months. Yes 12. Spent my time very
productively.
But, after I came back home in Mumbai on 30th October 2014, I came
across all the reports that had been around for those 2 months when I
was absent and I was more amused than disappointed!
A report also said that ‘the cops’ said I gave that ‘statement’, which
was denied by the Police in Hyderabad when I confronted them. One of
the Police said, that no press notes were released by the Department
of Police, Hyderabad, of any such statement made by me. And anyway,
Police is not allowed to reveal identity in such cases, so it was not
possible by them to reveal any such statement. It’s against the law.
And how could they, firstly this statement does not exist. I was
absent in the scene and that was an advantage for it to do the rounds.
And who are these business men in my life? I am just as curious as all of you!
So, here is the riddle: Why were the business men names who were
caught ‘along with me’ not revealed?
Clue: Were there any business men with me in that room at the time of
detainment in the first place?
Think Think.
PROVE IT!
I was in Hyderabad for Santhosham Awards, which was conducted on 30th
August. I was never encouraged to get into commercial sex and no agent
booked my tickets and stay there! My tickets and accommodation was
done by the award event organizers. The hotel where I stayed with
other guests of the award ceremony was a hospitality partner with the
event. I still have the itinerary in my email inbox.
My parents did not want me to act after Iqbal (2005). My parents’
bigger concern was me passing my 10th and 12th grade properly and not
jumping into movies at 16! We don’t dine at Wasabi every other weekend
but that doesn’t mean my parents have not done enough to bring me up
well. I had the best possible education, birthday gifts, family
vacations, sports clubs for playing a sport and enrollment at Music
Institute for learning music (I learn the sitar from Sangit
Mahabharati, Juhu, Mumbai), everything that a normal upper-middle
class parents can do.
I did few south films (Telugu and Tamil) when I was about 18 and then
past 3 and half years I had been busy making a documentary film called
Roots on Indian Classical music, starring interviews of Ustad Amjad
Ali Khan, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Shubha Mudgal, A R Rahman, Vishal
Bhardwaj, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia to name a few.
In fact, in June 2014 along with a friend (Adhiraj Bose), I also
co-produced and acted in a 12 minute short film named INT. CAFÉ NIGHT.
This short film starred myself along with Shernaz Patel, Naseeruddin
Shah and Naveen Kasturia, which is doing rounds of film festivals
right now. I have been auditioning for acting assignments as well. So
what ‘doors’ were closed? Please get your facts right before jumping
into conclusions!
However, on 5th December 2014 the Metropolitan Sessions Court,
Nampally, Hyderabad, gave me clean chit in the case and withdrew the
charges and stay order against me made by the trial court. To all
those who supported me throughout all this, thank you so much,
extending a big hug to all of you.
Anyway, enough said, enough heard. I have completely gone past the
whole incident and I overlook everyone who picked up false
statement(s) and encouraged mis-leading stories without verifying its
authenticity. I overlook, because this episode does not deserve any
more attention!
