After accepting on tape that Karan Johar paid him money to promote Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and attack Shivaay, KRK has now said that it was Ajay Devgn who offered money to promote his film.
After an angry and hurt Ajay Devgn slammed Kamaal R Khan (KRK) for bad-mouthing his film Shivaay and exposed him for having allegedly taken Rs 25 lakh from Karan Johar to tweet praises about Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, the self-proclaimed film critic did a U-turn by claiming that Johar never paid him anything. KRK admitted to taking the money in a taped telephonic conversation with Ajay’s business partner, Kumar Mangat.
In a text message sent to indianexpress.com, KRK wrote, “Kumar Mangat is my close friend. We both produced films like Aatma and Alone. Please listen to the tape properly. He called me to complain that I said bad about Shivaay and I said that nothing like that. He was complaining again and again that I am praising Ae Dil Hai Mushkil while other critics have said bad about it. Still I said that no I am not supporting Karan. But Kumar Mangat was still complaining that I am favouring Karan when I am Kumar’s friend. So to close the topic and avoid Kumar Mangat I said that I am favouring Karan because he paid me 25 lakhs. But Karan has not paid me anything. Please note we both were talking about favouring on Twitter only, not about reviews. Nobody can buy my review, whoever is he. Kumar Mangat Ne Dost Hokar Dhoka Diya hai, recording Ki Hai Jo Dosti Main Nahi Karni Chahiye. It shows that he is a bad person n worst friend (sic).”
Thursday evening, Ajay Devgn released and official statement in which he targeted both KRK and Johar. The statement read as follows: “I have been a part of the Indian film industry for the past 25 years and have been associated with over 100 films. My father was a professional action director and I have an emotional connection with this industry. It therefore pains me to see that people like Kamaal R Khan are holding the film industry to ransom by spreading negativity about films to extort money from producers. It is very sad that people from our own industry are supporting such elements and spoiling the ethos of the film industry. I would strongly demand that this be thoroughly investigated by competent authorities to clarify if Karan Johar was indeed involved in this.”
Read: Is KRK so influential his tweets should worry National Award-winner Ajay Devgn?
Ajay also made public the taped conversation between KRK and Kumar Mangat. Karan Johar is yet to officially respond in this matter.
Listen to KRK’s taped conversation with Ajay Devgn’s partner
Hear what self proclaimed no. 1 critic and trade analyst Kamaal R Khan has to say. https://t.co/wRc7moSlsZ
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) September 1, 2016
Meanwhile, Kamaal R Khan took to Twitter to first clarify matters with Ajay and then bash him. He even claimed Ajay offered him money to slam Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. “Sir @ajaydevgn 2-4 Dafaa Aaraam Se Suniye Isko Thande Dimag se, Aur Samajhye Ki Maine Kaya Kaha. Lol! Exposed😛. Let me clear it. Karan Johar has never paid me or asked me to bash #Shivaay n you can hear it in the tape. I said 25 Lakhs to avoid Kumar. Kumar+Ajay offered me money to bash #AeDilHaiMushkil as he is offering in the tape also but I refused. I told them that I will do it free,” he said in his earlier tweets.
Let me clear it. Karan Johar has never paid me or asked me to bash #Shivaay n you can hear it in the tape. I said 25 Lakhs to avoid Kumar.
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) September 1, 2016
Kumar+Ajay offered me money to bash #AeDilHaiMushkil as he is offering in the tape also but I refused. I told them that I will do it free.
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) September 1, 2016
He went on to write in a series of tweets, “Ppl thinking that I called Kumar Mangat but not true. Actually he is close friend n he only called me n he called me many times before also. One side Ajay Devgan is calling me self claimed critic n other side he thinks that I am really powerful no.1 critic who can harm his film. Today both films #Shivaay n #AeDilHaiMushkil got free publicity of millions of ₹ with my name and this is the power of The Brand KRK. G.N.”
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