By Hemisha Morarji.
‘I didn’t know what FHM was’
‘When I sent FHM legal notice, they threatened me’
‘I was wearing bikini and covered in tattoos’
‘They did not reply when I asked them to send me a copy of front cover before I sign contract’
The storm involving Pakistani actress Veena Malik and the Indian branch of men’s magazine FHM continues to get larger, as both sides vehemently defend their sides of the story.
The controversy revolves around the December issue of the publication, on which Miss Malik appeared naked on the cover, with her arms and legs covering her private areas, accompanied with a tattoo of the initials ISI on her arm, a reference to Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
But Miss Malik, talking to Asian World newspaper, stands by her claims that the images were doctored and that she was actually wearing a bikini and was covered in tattoos.
“I was wearing a bikini, but they morphed it. The upper portion of the model was completely covered in the tattoos and I agreed to that.”
However, after the shoot was over, Miss Malik asked FHM India to send over the finished photos before she signed the contract of consent, which she says the publication failed to do.
“I told them to provide me with my picture, then I would sign the contract, but they didn’t reply.”
However, Editor Kabeer Sharma, who said that FHM India will no longer participate in any more interviews regarding the matter, directed us to statements he and his team made.
Stylist Nitasha Gaurav and photographer Vishal Saxena strongly maintain that the photograph was genuine.
Miss Gaurav said, “It happened on November 23 at a small studio in Aaramnager in Versova. I was informed about it a week in advance and I was told that she would be going nude.
So clearly the production team of the magazine had discussed with her. Even on the day of the shoot, she was happy and comfortable with it”
Photographer Saxena supports this statement, saying “Veena really liked the concept and she was very co-operative and comfortable when I shot her.”
“As soon as she gave a shot, she even wanted to see the pictures. It is really hard to tell this sudden change in behaviour.”
The controversy has resulted in Miss Malik sending FHM India a legal notice, suing them for millions of rupees, while the publication has countersued the former Big Boss contestant for damages.
But the outspoken beauty, who is currently filming in Mumbai, said that FHM India threatened her in response to the legal notice she sent them.
She said, “In the reply they sent me about the notice I showed them first, they [have] only threatened me.
“They used very obscene language, which normally lawyers use to threaten someone, a loved one or a friend not to take the next step.”
However, Mr Sharma told reporters that so such threats have been made.
He said, “No one in FHM has had any conversation with Ms Malik directly or indirectly to make this “imagined threat.
“The one message that was sent to her was one that told her she could call the office landline if she wanted to have a conversation”.
Reports have said that FHM India received images of Miss Malik in a bikini, showing them that she was in good shape as the actress persistently pursued them for the shoot.
But Miss Malik rubbished the claims and said that she knew nothing of FHM India when they came to her for a possible shoot.
She told us, “They have no proof of that. FHM approached me – I never approached them.
I had no idea what FHM was. They only gave me an introduction that is mentioned on the name [FHM]”
Regarding the ISI tattoo, Mr Sharma told reporters that the idea was his, which Miss Malik supported.
She said, “Kabeer said that whenever something goes wrong in India, they always say that the ISI are behind it. The idea was supposed to be playful in a positive way.
He convinced me that it would be a good idea and I liked it.”
However, Mr Sharma said that it was Miss Malik’s idea to have it bigger and in block letters, which the sultry actress denied.
She said, “Not at all, he is only bluffing. He came up with the idea.”
