Priyanka Chopra is still recovering from the shock and anger of being publically humiliated by Ashutosh Gowariker, director of her next film “What’s Your Rashee?”, at the IIFA Awards on June 13, 2009.
After Priyanka collected her award as the Best Actress for “Fashion”, it was Ashu’s turn to go on stage to receive his Best Director award for “Jodhaa Akbar”.
The first thing that he uttered after taking the mike was, “Priyanka, I love you, but I don't know how you got the award for Best Actress when Aishwarya was also nominated in the same category for ‘Jodhaa Akbar’.”
As if that wasn’t bad enough, he further added, “Maybe it is because you are very hard-working and she is a natural.”
But when he realised that he was goofing up, he put the blame on Jaya Bachchan, who was standing next to him, and said, “Jayaji was just asking me the same thing."
Priyanka, understandably, was furious, but maintained a calm and dignified front.
However, she skipped the after-party in Abhishek and Aishwarya’s suite and reportedly said, “I don't want to go there and see his face.”
We wonder what made Ashu say what he did? Was he trying to impress the Bachchans on their home ground, IIFA awards? Considering Priyanka has won the Best Actress award for “Fashion” at every award show this year, how come Ashu suddenly wake up to realise Ash was more deserving?
By the way, Priyanka was not the only one whom he upset at IIFA awards. Apparently, he even had a confrontation with the hosts of the evening – actors Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh.
He is said to have blasted them for making fun of his film.
According to sources from IIFA, Riteish and Boman presented a skit spoofing all the movies nominated in the Best Film category, which included “Race”, “Dostana”, “Rock On”, “Ghajini”, “Jodhaa Akbar” and “A Wednesday”.
For the “Jodhaa Akbar” act, Boman played Akbar while a starlet played Jodhaa. Riteish walked in dressed as Amitabh Bachchan in “Shahenshah”. When Boman asked Riteish who he was, the latter replied, “Rishte mein hum tumhare baap lagte hai, lekin naam hai Shahenshah,” to which Boman said, “Tum Shahenshah toh main kaun hoon?”
It was an inoffensive statement, but it angered Ashu to no limit. He walked out from the audience and went straight to the green room. There he lectured Riteish and Boman about poking fun at others. He also asked Riteish and Boman why SRK and Bachchans were not made fun of (Though Abhishek’s movie “Drona” had been spoofed).
Ashu even threatened the organisers that if these things do not stop, he will take the stage and ask the audience, if these kind of jokes should be allowed at award functions.
The organisers apparently had to literally plead with him not to take such a step because it would spoil India’s image internationally as IIFA has a global reach.
Although he did not take the stage, Ashu did not spare Riteish and Boman. He was reportedly overheard telling people just because Riteish is a minister’s son, he thinks he can get away with anything.
Not one to lie low, Riteish too fired at Ashu and told him to take jokes sportingly.
The duo even questioned why Ashu never objected when Shah Rukh Khan poked fun at everyone whenever he hosted an award show.
Since this is the second time Ashu’s lost his temper at an awards night, we wonder if organisers will invite him to such functions in future.
Deepika Padukone, who has an admirer in Hollywood-filmmaker Rob Cohen, feels she isn’t the only Bollywood actor to have won the west over.
