‘Are we public properties?’

Bipasha Basu’s harrowing experience at a Delhi hotel where attempts were made to armtwist her into attending a private party, brings out the fact that actresses are often duped by the event organisers.

Bipasha Basu’s harrowing experience at a Delhi hotel where attempts were made to armtwist her into attending a private party, brings out the fact that actresses are often duped by the event organisers. “It’s wrong, but quite common,” admits actress Koena Mitra.

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Last year, Basu was at a wedding in Delhi but hadn’t been informed that the media and guests had been assured of an interaction with her.

Says actress Neetu Chandra, “We’ve become public property. If anyone asks me to cut a cake or click a photograph with me, I can’t say ‘no’.”

Actressses like her oblige because they don’t want to be branded rude and tantrum queens. “But after a while it gets on your nerves. Just because they pay us doesn’t mean they own us,” rages item girl Sambhavna Seth.

Singer-actress Sophie Chaudhary says that she’s landed up at wedding after being told she’d be performing at a corporate event. “That’s annoying,” she snaps.

Ashok Mittal of Ramada Plaza is contemplating legal action against Basu. “We footed the bill for her stay, use of spa and high tea,” he points out.

A copy of the contract, which is with HT, states she was to attend the after party hosted by Ramada Plaza “of her DVD launch”.

Argues Mittal, “She had to be at the party for 15 minutes. If it happened to be my birthday, why should it have been a problem?”