Posted:
'I hope you know that I am always late'
It was 3.30 pm when the star walked in holding a cigarette between his fingers and that was the first thing he said with his trademark smirk.
The star came, plonked himself on the sofa. My editor was not well that day and I gestured towards her to change her side of the sofa to escape the fumes of the star's cigarette. The conversation with his staff went on for another half an hour as we sat there blankly staring at him.
After a few usual opening lines which went like I am calling for coffee, you want some?' we got on to the actual conversation...
Actor: Who amongst you wrote that piece yesterday?
Journalist: Which piece?
Actor: That article that said I am sleeping with her (names another star actress).
Journalist: We didn't say anything like that, it was a just series of photographs (clicked on the sets of a reality show) where you were whispering something into her ears...
Actor: Yes. Who wrote that?
Journalist: That was on page three. That journalist is not with us today...
Actor: (Turning to the editor) I would have thrashed him if he was here today. He needs to be thrown out of your company. He should quit, you know.
Journalist: But... it is the party page... we got a few exclusive pictures and we published them with tongue-in-cheek captions. Everybody does that... Where did we go wrong?
(My Editor butting in) Let's get on with the interview. I am sure you don't hold that thing against us. I know you as somebody who never holds on to grudges (she follows him on Twitter)
Actor: Of course I hold a grudge against the journalist and why not?! Do you know that her mother called me yesterday? What do I tell her? Do I tell her that a b*tch of a journalist used free space on a newspaper to malign her daughter? And malign me in the process too? Moreover when Ms X (his PR) told him to publish an apology, he refused. I want an apology to be published on that very space.
(My editor) Have you read the article?
Actor: (Raising his voice) No I haven't. I realised that you have published something against me when I got a call from her mother. You think you can get away by doing this? You think I will let you go scot free?
(My editor) You haven't read the piece. Let me tell you that there was nothing derogatory about you in the captions. We were wondering what you were whispering into her ears. I can show it to you right now.
Actor: You don't have the right to publish material like that...
Journalist: That was a gossip item, it was published as a gossip.
Actor: Yeah gossip. You think that you can put anything in that column and get away with it? Did you do it? (He points a finger at me and slides towards the edge of the sofa)
Journalist: No. With all respect, I think there was nothing wrong with the caption. You are being unfair.
(Editor butting in) That was a minor thing, come on lets get on with the interview..
Actor: Unfair!!!! You see, I am a goonda myself. If you had written it, I promise I will thrash you right now. I promise I won't feel guilty socking you in the face. I am capable of doing it and I have done it in the past. (makes a fist towards me as if he is about to punch me)
(My editor is stunned and silent)
Journalist: I haven't ...written it. It was written by a female colleague of mine.
Actor: (Piping down a bit)I have immense respect for women. I romance them on screen. You want to know what I have done to that journalist?
(Silence)
Actor: I have cursed her...
😕
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