Preetii-Tarannum friendship goes kaput

I am disturbed

"I am anguished by her pettiness and hypocrisy. First, she was herself vocal in all leading newspapers and channels about how I was her only source of solace in lock-up and jail. And now she is equally vocal in disclaiming our 'friendship.'

Was unaware

"Here, I would like to clarify that I am neither aware of her entire life-story nor does it interest or concern me in any way.

The entire film team and I have been clear-cut right from the beginning that the film Deepa Ki Tarannum is merely 'inspired' from Tarannum's life. The correct perspective is that the film is a fictional film, and the producer Ranjeet Sharma, is entitled to creative license and freedom of expression.

I feel that such outbursts are mere immaturity on her part and I suspect that she has been instigated or provoked unnecessarily into mistrusting me. It is extremely unfortunate. On Jan 23, 2006, in a local paper she has done a volte-face, and had the audacity call me a 'liar'!

I have proof

I have a record of an SMS which Tarannum sent me from her personal mobile on December 13, 2005, in which she says to me "You know me very well. I just want to come out of media. I don't like to hear my name on TV nor on papers. And why people are trying to get so personal. And what anybody knows about my life? Nobody knows it. And I thought you are my friend."

Thus, she is admitting that I know her well and at the same time, the sms shows that she is harbouring certain misconceptions which I subsequently cleared via reply by sms. And yet, if she persists in her immaturity, then I think she is unnecessary trying to create controversies where none exist.

The whole episode and her recurrent outbursts have left a bad taste in my mouth. I am a person of integrity and I resent deliberate attempts to tarnish my image!