The first Indian Idol Abhijeet Sawant, who has been criticised for backing out of a commitment to a blind orchestra here, says his cousin is deliberately tarnishing his image.
"I don't know why. But I'm constantly made to look like a villain when all I want to do is work," Abhijeet said from Britain.
He is accompanying singer-composer Himesh Reshammiya for the Aap Ka Suroor live concert.
"I don't want to sound like a victim. But the latest example of my alleged villainy is that I agreed to sing for a blind orchestra called Udaan at Ghatkopar and then backed out of fulfilling my commitment.
"The truth is, it's the mediator, a cousin of mine, who played dirty. I was promised Rs.1.5 lakh (Rs.150,000) to come to the show. Out of this, I finally got only Rs.50,000. I went to the show, sang and fraternised with the orchestra. As soon as I came to know that the organisers were unhappy about my performance, I refunded all the money.
"It was made out as though I was forced to return the money when the truth is I readily and voluntarily gave it back. I later came to know the organisers had given Rs.80,000 for me. The mediators had swallowed up Rs.30,000."
Abhijeet is finding it hard to cope with all the negative vibes.
{{/usCountry}}Abhijeet is finding it hard to cope with all the negative vibes.
{{/usCountry}}"But I'm happy with my career after becoming the first Indian Idol. I'm doing innumerable shows in India and abroad. And I've sung the songs of a film called 'Mumbai.com'. I'm also starting work on my second film."
Abhijeet also cleared the air once and for all about the controversy surrounding his secret fiancée.
"Yes, there's a girl. And she is a very special friend. But she isn't my fiancée, as some papers wrote. She works for Jet. She's from a middleclass family and wants to be kept away from the limelight. We should respect that. Let's see what future holds for the two of us."