Actor Uttam Mohanty has been in the midst of a controversy following allegations of having promoted Ponzi company Oscar, the chief of which, Pravas Rout, has been put behind bars. Uttam speaks on the issue for the first time in a conversation with Subhashish Mohanty

 

♦ You are being criticised for attending the Oscar company's functions and promoting it. Your presence and association with the firm encouraged other artistes to attend the company's functions. Even, people were encouraged to invest money in the dubious company. What would you have say about this?

No one had any idea about a chit fund or Ponzi company in 2008. At that time, we heard about neither the AT Group nor Seashore (head of both the companies are in jail). Even, I had no idea about Oscar group chief Pravas Rout. After one of my friends had introduced him to me, Rout had requested me to come to Surat to attend his company's annual function. In return, I had placed a request that I would go to Surat if they arranged my visit to Shirdi - to which Rout agreed. I had only roped in Pappu Pom Pom, not any one else. We both hail from Mayurbhanj district.

♦ At the meeting in Surat, you had publicly said that you were part of the Oscar group.

The only blunder that I had committed was that I delivered my speech according to the text prepared by them. Due to paucity of time, I could not find time to prepare a speech of my own. Whatever he had given me, I read out. In the text, it was written that "Our Company". If anyone proves that I am a member of that group, I am ready to face any punishment. I had never asked anyone to deposit money with Oscar.

♦ It is alleged that you had received hefty amount for attending the function. Is it true?

I had not taken a single pie for attending their annual function. I had received Rs 30,000 for acting in a film produced by him. I had got the amount through a cheque.

♦ Your wife Aparajita and son Babushan had acted in the same film. What about them?

To be honest, I have no idea about the amount Aparajita had received from the group. Babusan had received Rs 30,000. Of it, he had got a mobile phone worth Rs 25,000 and the remaining amount in cash.

♦ Are you going to return the money?

Why should I? I had worked as a labourer for 15 days and got remuneration, which was even less than the fees of a spot boy.

♦ Did you ignore the background of the company in your desire to promote Babushan?

It was not Babusan's first film. Toh Akhire Mu was his second movie. He had already made a film under the banner of Brajaraj Movies, a known name. Under this banner, I had given a number of super-duper hit pictures.

♦ Oscar chief Pravas Rout said you were a part of the educational trust floated by his group?

I don't know. If I had been a member of the trust, my signatures must have been there. Wait for the crime branch report.

♦ There are allegations that there has been a nexus among real estate owners, Ponzi company owners and film producers....

Prior to 2008, there were no builders or Ponzi company owners in the cinema industry. There was a boom in 2008 when even car drivers became directors. This new breed of directors brought in these sorts of film producers. Their purpose was to gain fame overnight and also the political clout. How can you blame an artiste? He does not have the means to know who is good or bad. Take the case of Pravas Rout. He is an engineer by profession and a well-behaved person. The entry of new breed of producers had its impact also. The cost of film-making went up and we have lost originality. Now, we are simply lifting films from Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.

♦ Some actresses have alleged that casting couch exists in Odia film industry.

I am not aware of it. I don't even know who have claimed that they have been victimised. I have never heard of any actress making such allegations. These people should establish their identifies in industry and then make these kind of allegations. Just doing a role in a film, one should not claim to be an artiste.

♦ Do you think that the artistes are being targeted by vested interests?

Take the case of Jina and Lipi (two actresses), who had gone to Surat with us. They were kids at that time. They had gone to see a new place and make fun. But the way the media played it up, it seemed as if they too had taken the money. The issue has been blown out of proportion.