Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS): The ongoing row over the controversial AIB Roast show saw another twist with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt first questioning why actress Sonakshi Sinha's name didn't surface in the FIR and then expressing admiration for her "sane" and "mature" reaction to his statement.
In an interview to CNN-IBN, Bhatt said: "If being part of 4,000 people in the audience and laughing is a crime, then why have the other attendees not been named in the FIR. Sonakshi Sinha, who is the daughter of a person (BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha) who is part of the present dispensation was also in the audience, why was she not named in the FIR? Certain forces are orchestrating this series of events. You have to be naive not to see that."
The acrid reaction came after a Mumbai court ordered police to investigate and register an FIR against 14 celebrities, including Bhatt's actress daughter Alia, involved in the show performed in a stadium here Jan 20.
The order came on a criminal complaint lodged by social activist Santosh Daundkar.
"Dabangg" actress Sonakshi, who appeared to be calm and not flustered by the allegations, responded with a series of tweets.
"Dear Mr.@MaheshNBhatt, a couple of pointless FIR's have been filed before this (delhi and kol if im not mistaken, in which my name was Mentioned and Alia's wasnt (sic)," she tweeted.
"I don't remember my father questioning them as to how or why so. I do agree with u however, if these FIR's Are filed on 2-3 members of the audience, why not the other 3,998. Lets not give these ppl the attention they so desperately seek And as far as my memeory serves me, nobody EVER went to jail for laughing. (sic)," she added.
In response, Bhatt wrote: "@sonakshisinha TRUE! I could not agree with you more. Thank you for your SANE response. Amazed by your maturity at this tender age. Love (sic)".
The show has created a nationwide furore for its obscene comments. It was a charity comic event where Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and a panel of comedians "grilled" actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor on their personal and professional lives.