On November 30, model-turned-actress Gauhar Khan was presenting the TV show India's Raw Star, when Mohd. Akil Malik, a 24-year-old man in the audience, began heckling her. When she protested, Malik rushed ahead to slap her. Malik then said that he was upset with Gauhar for wearing a short dress on the show. The police booked Malik with assault (under Section 354 of the Indian penal code), causing hurt (Section 323), and criminal intimidation (Section 506). Out from jail, he turns around and says that Gauhar 'staged' the slap episode. SpotboyE.com caught up with Malik. Excerpts from the conversations that followed :
Are you staging a stunt?
I have been cheated by Gauhar Khan and I want people to know the truth.
Why should we believe you?
I have been cheated by Gauhar Khan and I want people to know the truth.
Why should we believe you?
I slapped her only because Gauhar promised me a role in return in Dabangg 3. Every common man dreams to work in a Salman Khan film.
And then?
Gauhar ensured me that I will be out of the mess soon as she will give a statement to the cops that she has pardoned me. So I agreed to do it. Even her driver knows about this.
What does your family think about this whole episode?
My family got me the interim bail. Gauhar didn't sponsor it. We had to shell out a fat sum of Rs 50,000. My mother has come down from Patna and has been here by my side. We are a simple middle-class family. They still can't believe that Gauhar turned her back on me.
Are you an aspiring actor?
Yes. I have the acting keeda in me.
Gauhar was supposed to blow kisses during the India's Raw Star shoot on November 28 and I was one of the five people who was 'supposed' to get floored. But that 'act' got cancelled (pauses). I went up to Gauhar and told her that I was her fan, and would love to do some work for her. She asked me to meet her after two days. And that's when she asked me to stage that slap.
If you are saying the truth, don't you think you stooped too low?
I was a fool. I got greedy for a role in a Salman film. I wish I knew that I was being used.
Why didn't you speak about Gauhar having cheated you, earlier?
I had to honour my promise, so I waited till December 4. Meanwhile, I realised that nothing was happening as per what Gauhar had told me. Apart from the fact that she didn't tell the police that she has pardoned me, her brother too ignored me. He came to the police station and left without saying anything. I was appalled.
What happened inside the jail?
(Sighs) The cops told me that celebrities don't care. My friends told me that I should reveal the truth. A few jail inmates too were of the same opinion. This whole episode is the biggest mistake of my life, so far.
Where do you go from here?
My life is in a mess and I blame Gauhar for it. Now, I just want to get done with this case and move on to work as a driver/waiter in UAE, like I did in the past.
Do you still nurse a desire to act?
No, I don't want to be associated with the entertainment industry in any way.
P.S: Despite calls and text messages, Gauhar Khan remained unavailable for comment.