Saif protests against assault charge by a photo journalist in Patiala

[nikikapur]

A report in the papers on Monday claiming Saif to be guilty of assault, intimidation and inciting violence against a Hindi photojournalist in Patiala, has the star not quite angry or anxious but definitely a little exasperated.

Speaking to me on Monday afternoon, Saif protests, "First of all, the news report has got the name of the film wrong. We weren't shooting for 3 Idiots. I am not a part of that film, Kareena is. I was shooting for Imtiaz Ali's film which I am producing. I wasn't even there when this incident happened. We've been shooting in the nights on the railway station in Patiala for the last three days. This incident supposedly happened in the evening before shooting started. Apparently, there was some kind of an argument with a photo journalist, whose name I don't even know. All my unit members including my producer partner Dinesh Vijeyan apologized to all concerned. And I thought the matter ended there."

The next thing Saif knew the journalist had reported the matter to the police. Sighs Saif, "I really think all this is so unnecessary. I paid a goodwill to the cops and the press in Patiala. Everything is okay now."

This isn't the first occasion when Saif has been in a scuffle with media persons. "But I hope it's the last," he sighs. "All this uncalled-for attention can be very annoying. We're here in Pataila to work and we love the place. We aren't here to get into ugly situations with anyone."