Kamaal R Khan finds himself in the middle of a controversy, yet again. The self-confessed film critic was accused by actor Ajay Devgn of ‘taking money’ to promote Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Ajay Devgn made public an audio recording in which Khan claims that he was paid Rs 25 Lakhs to undermine Shivaay as proof.
Hear what self proclaimed no. 1 critic and trade analyst Kamaal R Khan has to say. https://t.co/wRc7moSlsZ
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) September 1, 2016
Sometime later, in a complete turn around, Khan alleged that it was Devgn who bribed him.
Let me clear it. Karan Johar has never paid me or asked me to bash #Shivaay n you can hear it in the tape. I said 25 Lakhs to avoid Kumar.
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) September 1, 2016
Kumar+Ajay offered me money to bash #AeDilHaiMushkil as he is offering in the tape also but I refused. I told them that I will do it free.
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) September 1, 2016
Today both films #Shivaay n #AeDilHaiMushkil got free publicity of millions of ₹ with my name and this is the power of The Brand KRK. G.N.
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) September 1, 2016
At a press conference held recently, KRK admitted that charging money for promotions was his way of working. “I never say that I don’t take money to do film promotions. I have my website and it is not a public forum. I pay salaries to everyone. I have promoted several films, some have paid me 10 lakhs, some 15 lakhs and the films for which I have promoted, I haven’t reviewed them. And charging money to promote the films is my policy. I never do it for free. During ‘Bombay Velvet’, I had said that Karan Johar had sent me a message but it was nothing like that. It became a huge controversy since the time I have asked money on camera from Karan. I saw and loved the teaser of ‘ADHM’ so I said good things about it. Why will I say bad things about any film just to make someone happy? I feel ‘Shivaay’ is ‘Himmatwala 2’ and so I said as much. As a film critic, I will decide what to say and not anyone else.”
Director Karan Johar, on the other hand, is yet to comment on this issue.
Ajay Devgn demanded an official inquiry into this issue through an official statement:
“I have been a part of the Indian film industry for the past 25 years and have been associated with over 100 films. My father was a professional action director and I have an emotional connection with this industry. It therefore pains me to see that people like Kamaal R Khan are holding the film industry to ransom by spreading negativity about films to extort money from producers. It is very sad that people from our own industry are supporting such elements and spoiling the ethos of the film industry. I would strongly demand that this be thoroughly investigated by competent authorities to clarify if Karan Johar was indeed involved in this.”
Ajay Devgn’s actress wife Kajol expressed her shock over the issue. She is a close friend of Karan Johar, and has acted in several of his films.
Shocked https://t.co/0hDvRqUzMc
— Kajol (@KajolAtUN) September 1, 2016
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