Shweta Prasad Basu, best remembered as the National Award winning child star in Makdee, recently found herself amidst a mad controversy where she was caught in a prostitution racket. She was put in a rescue home along with other kids who are victims of human trafficking and other such situations. A lot has been written and said about the issue, but Shweta has now finally broken her silence in an interview with DNA.
Here’s all you need to know about her side of the story from the interview.
1. That the entire scandal was baseless
No I never made that statement. I was in custody. I wasn’t allowed to speak to my mother and father, then how would I speak to the media? Whoever made up that statement damaged my reputation by saying that all doors were closed on me—no such thing has happened and the film industry has always been very warm and welcoming to me—and that “people encouraged me to get into prostitution to earn money.” These are outrageous lies that I never uttered.
2. That she expects more responsible journalism
The media should have waited for me to come out before making up its mind whether I was guilty or not. I should’ve been given the right to defend myself. When I was in there I was not allowed to look at television or read papers. It’s now when I come out that I see what a media circus my life was made into.
3. That there was a raid but that doesn’t make her a prostitute
I hadn’t been called to Hyderabad by any agent for commercial sex. I had gone to there to attend an awards ceremony. Call it fate or whatever, I missed my flight back in the morning. My air ticket and stay were done by the organizers of the awards function. I still have the ticket. I’ve been told that the agent has been arrested. The case is being investigated. I am a victim in the whole situation. There was a raid… I am not denying the incident. But the facts are not what they’ve been made out to be.
4. That she hasn’t been out of work, contrary to popular belief
After I did Iqbal, my parents made me pursue my studies. I make documentaries. I attend film festivals. I don’t have time to sit at cafes taking selfies. I’ve dedicated my life to cinema and acting. I am not going to let one incident spoil my life.
5. That she is unbroken and raring to go!
Right now, I have just returned to the post-production of my documentary on Hindustani classical music. Life has moved forward from exactly from where I left off.
It’s great to see Shweta come out this strong. You go, girl!