By Hindustan Times
New Delhi, April 13 -- Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar is a relieved man, after the Supreme Court stayed proceedings within the rape case against him. The fees were slapped by starlet Priti Jain in 2004. Bhandarkar says the past eight years has been filled with "mental harassment and mental agony."
He adds, "IT IS A big relief and i'm overwhelmed. It was traumatic. Regardless of the allegation, I'VE worked with top actors and those have believed in me. I even won the National Award." The 45-year-old also says that fighting the case was a trial. "We had all got used to it. It was her (Priti's) word against mine. When the ordeal is on, you need to undergo the process, but I'M a fighter. I come from a center class family. I used to sell video cassettes and i'm not even a graduate. You'll accuse me or abuse me, but I CAN'T take it lying down. Plus, God is kind to me, I'M His blessed child," he says, adding that he's thankful for his wife's support.
"I was six months into my marriage when this happened. She is a sturdy person and supported me." And what is going to he tell his daughter Siddhi? He says, "She is just too young. Now kids have ipads and all so slowly she is going to come to understand. But she knows her father is a fighter." Bhandarkar, who's looking ahead to his next film, Heroine, trashes reports that he's taking the film to Cannes. "No, that's not true," he concludes.
