If MTV and Production house Balaji Telefilms wanted drama to lift the fortunes of cricket reality show BCL 3, they seem to have got an extra dose in one recently played match between Mumbai Tigers and new squad, Kota Royals (16 th Feb).
Kota Royals player Kanwar Dhillon (Hum Hai Na, Do Dil Ek Jaan and Piya Rangrezz) has railed on Facebook against his franchise for non-selection, in all their three, so-far- played matches, including the above. He has also alleged being abused when questioned. He has also not spared organizer Anand Mishra and fellow team-mates for not supporting him. The other Kota squad members include Madhurima Tuli, Jigyasa Singh, Anjum Fakih, Manit Joura etc.
Interestingly, when called, Kanwar, last seen in Ek Aastha Aisi Bhee, he refused to comment, saying, “I am not allowed to talk.”
Mumbai Tigers player, Suyyash Rai, who was there, confirmed that Kanwar was abused for asking why he was not chosen to play. “Even team-owner Riyaz Bhati came and insulted Kanwar. It was in bad taste, since it was in public,” told Suyyash when we questioned him.
For the uninitiated, Kanwar had thanked Suyyash in the post as well, for supporting him.
Not much is known about the Kota owners, and Kanwar says he was not acquainted with them beforehand. Apparently, he was roped in, thanks to friends.
However, another Kota player, Ashita Dhawan (Sapna Babul Ka…Bidaai, Doli Saja Ke etc), gave a different version of the very ugly fracas, saying, “Kanwar was not allowed to play because he was not performing well in the practice sessions. And the team has to field the best as the playing 11. We could not drop a better player, just because you have issues with him.”
On the issue of team members not supporting him, she said, “We advised him not to make a scene, but when he refused to back down, we decided to stay away.” Ashita was last seen in Dil Dhoondta Hai.
“I wonder why he does so much drama, just for BCL. If you wanted footage, you could have got it even in the dugout, depending on what creative slogans you scream or banner you put up. What will you get if you get out for a duck? He shouldn’t have gone public. Additionally, his behavior at the end of the match– praising the rival squad and saying that Kota rightly lost– was unsportsmanlike”, ended Ashita, whose better half, Sailesh Gulabani, is part of the same squad.
A source, who did not want be named, said, “Even the Kota mandarins were equally aggressive, and the scene became quite heated for a while.”
We tried to get in touch with Anand Mishra, the organizer, Marinating Films, who messaged back saying he was busy in a match and would get back later.
Our text message to Producer Ekta Kapoor came to naught.
The cameras have captured the entire incident in all its infamous glory. Wonder how much will be eventually shown?
We really hope the Kota Royals team stays united and puts its best foot forward in the matches to come…