Wasn't forced into prostitution, journalist made up my statement, says Shweta Basu Prasad

[email protected] (Mangaluru)
November 4, 2014

Shweta Basu PrasadMumbai, Nov 4: Actress Shweta Basu Prasad spoke to the media after being released from the rescue home on 31 October and told them that she had never issued any statement after her arrest and it is a journalist who had concocted those "utter lies" during her "hour of crisis".

India Today quoted Shweta Basu Prasad saying, " I've no complaints against anyone except the journalist who during my hour of crisis made up a statement attributed to me."

"That statement was circulated everywhere. I had no idea about it as I had no access to newspapers or websites for two months." she added.

The actress was arrested in September by the Hyderabad police on charges of prostitution. Reportedly, she was "caught in a compromising position" when the cops raided a famous hotel at the upscale Banjara Hills in the city. Following the arrest she was kept at a rescue home from where she was released on 31 October after a sessions court in Nampllay ordered to release her and allowed her to stay with her family.

Speaking to media, the actress said that the police had asked for names of other actresses involved in prostitution rackets. However, Prasad didn't give out any names. NDTV quotes Prasad as saying, "I didn't even know many of their names. Why should I make comments on other actresses? Shame on the people who said I was forced to do certain things by my family to afford a lifestyle."

In an interview to DNA, she even said that she and her family is trying to track the journalist who floated the quote down and they plan to sue him/her.

She said that she was hardly depressed and had spend the two months in the rehabilitation home with victims of trafficking 'productively'. She said that she volunteered as a teacher for Hindi, English and Hindustani classical music.

The actor said, "But I am completely unaffected by the entire episode. I now see how futile and unnecessary it was. I am glad to be alive and kicking and raring to go. Life looks beautiful and hopeful."

She also denied that she flew to Hyderabad as a part of the sex racket. "I hadn't been called to Hyderabad by any agent for commercial sex. I had gone to there to attend an awards ceremony," she told the media. However, she didn't deny her involvement in the sex incident though she insisted that the media got the details wrong.

The actress had reportedly issued a statement after that, which she now denies making. In the alleged statement, the actress was quoted saying "I have made wrong choices in my career, and I was out of money. I had to support my family and some other good causes. All the doors were closed, and some people encouraged me to get into prostitution to earn money. I was helpless, and with no option left to choose, I got involved in this act. I'm not the only one who faced this problem, and there are several other heroines who have gone through this phase."

Basu rose to fame as a child star with her film Makdee that won her a National Award, she also played the role of Sreyas Talpade's sister in the film Iqbal. She later went on to act in several television shows including Ekta Kapoor's Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Karishma Kaa Karishma. She is currently working in the Telugu film industry.

India Today had earlier reported that "The police said they have also arrested several well-known businessmen along with the actor. The actor underwent a medical test before being lodged in a rescue home run by the Woman and Child Welfare department. She is likely to stay there for three months."

However, while Basu's name was made public by the police sources, her high profile clients' names has been kept a secret.

Also Read:

Shocking: Tollywood actress, star kid of Bollywood movie Makdee, caught in prostitution racket

Caught in a sex racket, Shweta Basu Prasad allows to go home

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Agencies
May 17,2020

Mumbai, May 17: TV actor Manmeet Grewal, who worked on shows like "Aadat Se Majboor" and "Kuldeepak", committed suicide after struggling with dwindling finances amid lockdown, family friend-producer Manjit Singh Rajput said.

Grewal, who was originally from Punjab, hanged himself on Friday night at his Kharghar residence here where he lived with his wife. He was 32.

Rajput, who had known Grewal for nearly seven years, said the actor was facing "financial crisis" and wasn't able to earn due to the lockdown. 

"He was going through a major financial issue and he was also in depression. The added pressure of not being able to repay loans amid this (no work phase) got to him. His wife is completely shocked and devastated," Rajput told PTI.

The producer said last rites of the actor were performed on Saturday. 

Grewal was working on projects like a webseries and some commercials, which were put on hold due to the nationwide lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

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News Network
April 14,2020

Mumbai, Apr 14: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has thanked Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan for providing 25,000 personal protective equipment for health workers.

Khan on Monday provided the personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to the frontline medical staff in Maharashtra fighting to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Tope took to Twitter to thank the actor for the help.

Many thanks Mr. Shah Rukh Khan for your kind contribution of 25,000 PPE kits. This will go a long way in supporting our fight against COVID19 & protecting our frontline medical care team @iamsrk @MeerFoundation @CMOMaharashtra," he tweeted.

The actor and his wife Gauri Khan recently offered their four-storey personal office space for treating COVID-19 patients.

Khan had earlier announced various initiatives to help the country during the crisis.

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News Network
May 11,2020

Los Angeles, May 11: Iconic soul and R&B singer Betty Wright has died after a battle with cancer. She was 66. According to Entertainment Weekly, the Grammy winner passed away on Sunday in her hometown Miami, Florida, Wright's niece confirmed.

The news comes a week after singer-songwriter Chaka Khan tweeted praying for her "beloved sister", without mentioning the cause of ailment.

"Calling all my #PrayWarriors | My beloved sister, Betty Wright, is now in need of all your prays. 'Que Sera, Sera | Whatever Will Be, Will Be' In Jesus Name We Pray for Sister Betty All My Love Chaka," she wrote.

Wright, whose real name was Bessie Regina Norris, was born in 1953.

She started singing as part of her siblings' musical group called the 'Echoes of Joy', but she rose to fame in the 1970s.

The singer was a member of the gospel ensemble until they parted ways when she was 11, leading her to embrace R&B music.

Wright signed with the label Deep City Records in 1966, a year later becoming a local hit with songs "Thank You Baby" and "Paralyzed".

Her first album My First Time Around wasn't released until two years later featuring the hit "Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do."

The biggest hit of her career Clean Up Woman came a year later, which was certified gold barely days after her 18th birthday.

At the age of 23, she went on to win her first Grammy Award for Best Song, Where is the Love?

Wright continued writing and producing music for two decades, her final hit  No Pain, (No Gain) was released in 1988.

Wright also collaborated with talent in the industry including fellow Miami superstar Gloria Estefan, for whom she arranged the harmonies on the 1991 track Coming Out of the Dark, as well as Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, and Joss Stone.

She served as the vocal coach of the girl group Danity Kane on "Making of the Band" (2006).

With her collaboration with The Roots titled Betty Wright: The Movie, Wright again came under spotlight in 2011. This was her first album in a decade.

She scored a Grammy nod for the song Surrender from the album. Her work has been sampled throughout the years by Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Afrika Bambaataa, and Chance the Rapper. Several names from the music industry such as Snoop Dogg, John Legend, and DJ Khaled condoled Wright's demise on social media.

Snoop shared a video of Wright singing "Tonight is the Night" and thanked his mentor for inviting him to "thankful Thursday's" at her Florida house years ago.

"I know god is pleased with your work. Tonight is the night you get to heavens gates. Long live. Betty Wright," he wrote on Instagram.

Legend said Wright will be missed.

"She was always so loving and giving to younger artists. Always engaged, always relevant," he tweeted.

Khaled shared a clip of his performance with Wright on the song "Holy Key" at the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards.

"Betty Wright, you are an angel. You one of my realest friends I have! You are like a mom to me! You had my back from the very beginning! We made beautiful music together! Betty Wright is an icon! And the Mother of Miami," he wrote.

Wright was married three times - her final marriage was to reggae legend Noel 'King Sporty' Williams from 1985 until his death in 2015.

She had five children: Aisha McCray, Patrice Parker, Patrick Parker, Patrice Parker, and Chaka Azuri. Her son Patrick was shot to death on Christmas Day 2005 at the age of 21.

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