Hotentertainment: July 2013

Chronic shocker Poonam Pandey is now in shock. A political party has been pulling down the posters of her debut film Nasha. Poonam is a little hurt. ‘This has hurt me. I don’t normally allow myself to get affected. But I never expected I’d be targeted this way for my first film. It has made me nervous.

I knew I wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms into cinema. I’ve no godfather, no support from the industry. But I didn’t expect to be welcomed in this way. What have I done that is so scandalous?’

Tongue-in-cheek, Poonam lashes out at the hypocrisy of showbiz. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever crossed limits. I’ve always said more than I’ve done. I’ve seen so many posters and hoardings that are far more suggestive than mine. My posters have nothing scandalous in them. I haven’t shown my private parts.’

Poonam admits she is nervous because of the negative attention. `People in this country give so much respect to a hardcore porn actress from abroad. Whereas I have never done anything that can be considered pornographic.

Mere jaisi bechari si lakdi ko target kiya jaa rahi hai. I have never crossed limits. Nasha is not a porn film. It’s a proper mainstream Hindi film. Of course since I star in it there’s skin show. But that apart there is a lot to take away from the film.’

Poonam feels targeted. ‘Why me? I just feel some elements are trying to cash in on my popularity.

The doughty devil-may-care Mumbai girl maintains the image and the individual are the same. ‘What you see and read of me on the internet is what I am. It isn’t as if me and my team sat down and scripted an entirely different Poonam Pandey for the public. Main aisi hi hoon. It isn’t as if I become a different person at home. To my parent’s dismay, I am the same at home and in public.’

She laughs heartily. ‘My parents don’t like the way I conduct myself. Though I’ve been born and brought up in Mumbai, we’re from a conservative Brahmin family. My behaviour is quite shocking to my family. Lekin main kya karoon? This is the way I am.’