'Marrying Kamya was a mistake'

Kamya Punjabi

All this while, Bunty Negi, an assistant director on Vishesh Films' in-the-making project Showbiz, preferred to maintain a stoic silence about his failed marriage to telly actress Kamya Punjabi (Dulhann, Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki).

Negi, who is also into the lights business for Bollywood, did not want to indulge in mud-slinging. However, after Kamya broke her silence about their unsuccessful marriage (My marriage is over, HiTLIST, February 8), he wants to clear the air about what went wrong between Kamya and him.

Bunty first met Pinky ("That is Kamya's real name," he says) on the sets of Vashu Bhagnani's Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Keerti Reddy. "Kamya began as a group dancer in films.

She was part of choreographer Ahmed Khan's troupe and featured in Tera Jadoo's title track. I was doing the lights for the film.

You can also see her in Kaho Na Pyar Hai. She is in the troupe dancing to the Pyar ki kashti track. She also tried her hand in south films before television happened," points out Bunty.

Filmi shaadi

The couple went around for four years and on November 24, 2005 suddenly decided to tie the knot. "It was in true filmi fashion; we were deeply in love. We went to a mandir in Bandra and got married.

I told my family only afterwards that we had tied the knot. Later, we went to court and registered it. I was only 23. Now when I look back, I realise my marriage was a big mistake.

I didn't listen to anyone, so I regret this moment the most. There were people who warned me against marrying a dancer. There were choreographers who told me to stay away but I did not listen. I was totally besotted by her."

Though the couple remained married for two years, it turned into a rocky affair within months. "Initially, we stayed with our folks in Bandra and then moved to our home in Kandivili. She still stays in that house.

It began with small arguments, but our first big tiff was when she went off to Muscat to do a play without even telling me. She remained inaccessible for days.

She did not even bother to tell me she was travelling abroad! She kept on mixing her personal life with her professional life. She would tell me people are linking her with her co-stars on the sets and things like that."

Midnight drama

When things went bad, he moved back with his folks in Bandra. About the infamous slapping incident in Kandivili a while back, Bunty claims, "Yes, there was a verbal duel we had in the wee hours of the morning on the road.

I pushed her, as I was extremely angry. She was with a struggling actor at that time. He was a friend of her co-star from Reth. She kept on defending this guy and that infuriated me."

Bunty claims the main reason why they headed for splitsville was because of her growing friendship with her Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki co-actor Nimai Bali. "She would talk to him for hours and would insist that it was work-related.

I cautioned her several times, saying that he is married and has a child, but it was in vain. People would call me saying that they would see her with Nimai all the time. After this, there was no point in talking or settling our differences. We mutually agreed to part ways."

Now Bunty wants to move on from this failed marriage. "I want to concentrate on direction now. My brother and uncle look after the lights business. I am also writing a script and hope to direct it next year. I want to work hard and forget this dark chapter in my life."

http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/february/152288.htm