Starlet Preeti Jain (she prefers Pretti Jaiin) made all her phone calls from the neighbourhood PCO booth, despite having a cellphone.To Jain’s neighbours in the Ganga Jamuna building — on Yari Road in the western suburb of Versova, down the road from Bollywood biggies like Rani Mukerji — it was a peculiar habit.But the change she saved were an indication of her hard, nine-year-long — and unsuccessful — battle for stardom. Unlike her loud television persona, to her neighbours Jain (30) was an introvert who travelled in autorickshaws and didn’t speak to anyone.It’s hard to reconcile that persona of a struggler with the fiery headline grabber who first made news about a year ago when she accused director Madhur Bhandarkar of raping her over five years.Yesterday, Mumbai police arrested Jain, for hiring a contract killer to murder Bhandarkar. Jain allegedly paid former underworld don and now MLA Arun Gawli a supari (contract) to kill Bhandarkar.But there are more twists in the tale. One of the reasons Jain took Bhandarkar to court was because he allegedly broke several promises to cast her in his films. According to her statement in 2004: ‘‘We had sex 16 times and Madhur made promises of giving me a lead role in his films. He didn’t offer me a lead role in any of his movies. At times when I refused, he raped me.’’Jain came to Mumbai from Ahmedabad in 1999. She was doing small-time modeling assignments when she met Bhandarkar when he was casting for Chandni Bar. Film publicist Rajoo Kariya, who is also the producer of Madhubala, a film said to be inspired by the Bhandarkar-Jain case, describes Jain as ‘‘a nice girl who really struggled to make it in Bollywood. She’s probably frustrated because nothing has come out of her struggle.’’Till date, Jain has shot for only one film, BR Ishara’s yet to be released Bikaoo (formerly titled Sab Kuch). In Bollywood, she’s been labeled a publicity seeker. Apparently, just three days before sending a legal notice to Bhandarkar, Jain had sent a similar notice to a composer. Ten days ago, she sent a legal notice to Kariya for using her name to publicise Madhubala. She even accused Kariya of using the casting couch.Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt never met Jain but knows an acquaintance who knew Jain. ‘‘He told me that she’s emotionally disturbed,’’ said Bhatt. (with Swati Anand)‘I thought it was over’Director Madhur Bhandarkar says he got threatening calls in July: I was on my way to office when I started getting calls. I didn’t know what to say or do. I was in complete shock. After all, these things don’t happen in real life, do they?After the High Court judgment questioned Preeti’s credibility, I thought the saga had ended. But in July, I got a couple of threatening calls. My wife Renu also answered a call. A man’s voice said: ‘‘Mamla settle karlo’’. We filed a complaint in the Khar police station. It was found out that the calls were made from a PCO.My friends advised me to go for police protection but I didn’t take it seriously. I don’t know what my next step should be. I have yet to consult my lawyers. But I’ll cooperate with the Mumbai police.I don’t know what Preeti’s problem is.I’ve never interacted with her beyond the usual pleasantries. She used to come to my office and ask for work. That’s the extent of my so-called relationship with Preeti Jain.
