It's not a supportive industry anymore. Hats off to
Deepika Padukone who made it clear this morning that she expected more
solidarity in her hour of crisis (Padmaavat), if you read between her lines.
Now, Aditya Pancholi endorses Deepika's thinking and makes it clear that the
Pancholis are not worried that his son Sooraj has been charged of abetment to
Jiah Khan's suicide.
We called up Aditya an hour ago, and here are the
excerpts from the conversation that followed:
Sooraj has been charged under section 306, which spells
out 'abetment to suicide'...
Well, let me tell you that we were waiting for the day when
the charges will be framed against him since four-and-half years. Every time,
the complainant (Read: Rabia Khan, Jiah's mother) managed to get a stay on the
kick-off date of the trial.
Pray, which complainant stalls the proceedings or throws
a spanner? Shouldn't the complainant ask for the case to move on fast track?
Lekin nahin, yahan ulta tha.
The lady judge who charged him eventually, asked Sooraj
if he was guilty- to which he vehemently said 'No'. She emphatically said that
she was not going with Section 302 (murder).
Anyway, now that the charges have been framed, the case
will at least begin. If we are proven guilty we will be punished, else no.
And... (trails off).
And what?
Imagine this. Sooraj buys a rope, gives it to Jiah to
strangulate herself and then pulls off the chair beneath her feet. My son can
never do such a thing.
|Let me say it pointblank. Sooraj is totally innocent.
This morning, Deepika Padukone made a very telling
statement in a section of the media. She said that she would expect more
solidarity in Bollywood- and I guess she was referring to her crisis period
during the pre-release dates of Padmaavat. Padmaavat director Bhansali stays in
your building. It will be a miss if I don't ask you how has the industry
reacted to Zarina Wahab (wife) and you in your moment of crisis?
Well, I remember the time when Sanjay Dutt was arrested.
The industry went on strike and took out a morcha. Those days are gone. Aaj you
know how the world is, don't you? How many have the time and/or inclination to
come forward and pledge support?
Frankly, hum khud aajkal kahan jaate hai aur kisko
support karte hain? So, honestly speaking, I don't expect anybody to lend a
helping hand.
So, I haven't had any supporters in my dark period with
Sooraj, except for Salman Khan.
How is Sooraj feeling? Nervous?
No, not at all. Why would he feel nervous? He knows he is
innocent. Zarina and I know that he is innocent. It shouldn't take long to
clear him of the charges.
And Zarina?
She is in Bangkok at the moment. So, she obviously can't
have a long conversation. 
You had met Jiah Khan, hadn't you?
Yes, I had.
How did you find her?
I think she was a very educated, well-spoken and
well-mannered girl. She was a lovely person. I don't know why she had a
tendency to end her life. i don't know her history in deep, but I wonder why
she had suicidal tendencies. She had tried to kill herself even when she was a
child.
Have you'll started
keeping a tab of his friends he cultivates or moves around with, especially the
girls- after the Jiah incident?
Yes, as parents of course, we are more cautious
now. We are worried about the girls he intermingles with. And I think
more than us, he is careful.
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