Former Bigg Boss contestant-turned-critic Kamaal R Khan has waded right into the middle of the box office battle between Ajay Devgn’s Shivaay and Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Recently, an audio recording surfaced in which KRK alleged that he was paid Rs 25 lakh by the Dharma Productions' head honcho to tweet positively about Ae Dil Hai Mukshil.
To clarify his stand, KRK addressed a press conference on September 2 where he accused Devgn of making him a scapegoat in his battle with Johar.
The Ek Villain actor began the press conference by displaying a cheque issued by Shivaay producer Kumar Mangat's company in his name for Rs 3 crores to prove his close professional and personal rapport with Ajay and his business partner.
Further, KRK insisted that Johar neither paid him any money nor is he a friend.
"Johar never asked me to bad-mouth any film. I have been made a scapegoat. So Devgn should stop firing the gun from my shoulder to target Johar. I would only like to ask him to fight it out with Johar, one-on-one, like men do and not resort to something like this. This fight is between Devgn and Johar and I have been dragged into it," KRK reiterated
While Johar has maintained a silence on this matter so far, Devgn has already issued a statement, demanding an investigation into whether the former bribed KRK or not.
At the press conference, KRK mocked Devgn for claiming to have an emotional connect with the industry as an actor. He said, "Devgn was a 2-rupees person before joining the industry and today he is a billionaire. He has no emotional connect with the industry. The only connect he has is that of money."
"He did not help the producers of Action Jackson after they suffered losses due to the movie flopping. During Jab Tak Hai Jaan, after the demise of Yash Chopra, everyone requested Devgn to shift the dates of Son of Sardaar but he refused. That is his emotional connection with the industry," he added.
KRK also pointed out, "Devgn had slapped a legal case against YRF in which his contention was that in a competition you can't do anything that is not fair. He wants to do something similar in this case too. He wants to fire the gun off my shoulders with Johar as the target."
Adding that Devgn is insecure about Shivaay's prospect at the box office, Kamaal R Khan claimed that the Singham actor is doing all these publicity stunts just to save his film.
He said, "People think they get their name associated with me they will get publicity. Otherwise why would Devgn drag me into this? This stunt will only garner negative publicity for the film. He doesn’t trust his film and this is why he is relying on critic’s reviews."
Signing off, Khan added, "I have always given honest reviews of all the films and I would do the same the same for both the films in October."
Both the parties involved in this controversy have a lot riding on their respective movies.
While Ajay is making a comeback to direction with Shivaay which is his most ambitious project yet, Johar has gone behind the camera for the Ranbir Kapoor starrer after four long years.
Both Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will release on October 28.
