Bangalore: An alleged video clip showing Kannada actress Harshika Poonacha and Tamil actor Simbu in a lip-lock has been doing the rounds, and the former has finally broken her silence on the controversy. “I have been continuously ignoring the stupid comments on the alleged SIIMA (award show held in Malaysia recently) kissing video, but it doesn’t seem to stop!” she cleared the air on Monday evening through a tweet. The kissing video, which has gone viral, has a caption stating that it is leaked from a CCTV footage of a hotel in Malaysia and unidentified people have identified the two in it as Harshika and Simbu. The awards function was held in Malaysia last month. Simbu had already denied his involvement. Till date, Harshika chose not to comment on the whole controversy. But the constant references to it on social mediahave forced her to clear the air finally.
“I hereby want to inform you all that it’s not me in that alleged Superstar Simbu & Harshika Poonacha video. Some jobless people hav morphed it along with a pic containing me & Simbu. I did watch the video a few days ago & realised it was morphed,” the actress said on the micro-blogging site.” (sic) The actress, however, defended Simbu and says he could not have done such a thing. “Simbu would not get down to that level. So these jobless people are tryin to create cheap publicity please do somethin constructive!” (sic)
Speaking to Mirror, Harshika said, “I kept quiet all these days hoping the issue would die down. When I know it is not me, there was no reason for me to comment on it or complain against it. But many people began to irritate me sending messages, links of the video and making nasty comments. So I came out with the clarification. I hope this is the end of it and I can go on with my life. My only concern was about my family and friends. They know it is not me and nothing else matters.”
Harshika says she did not complain to police because she has nothing to do with the clip. “I am tired of people linking it to me. Had I I asked the websites to delete it, people would have asked why I was chasing the matter if I was not involved. I also clarified about Simbu. When I met him at the awards, he behaved in a gentle way. Andy (Aindrita Ray), Diggi (Diganth) and I were all together when we met Simbu. I have heard Simbu has sued the hotel. But when it is not me, I see no reason to complain. But I want this to end. I stopped myself from responding till now and will not clarify again.”
Kissing controversies are new to Sandalwood. The most famous ‘leaked’ kiss is the one allegedly between director Ratnaja and actress Amulya which surfaced during the shooting of Premism. Both alleged that it was morphed and they had nothing to do with it. But the damage was done already.
