DNA

Mumbai, Aug 6: The queen of soaps sat unaware as major drama unfolded outside her Andheri office on Tuesday morning. Taking his passion for acting to a new level, 28-year-old Akshay Shivam Shukla tried to immolate himself outside Balaji Telefilms office on Link Road, Andheri, when he wasn’t allowed to meet Ekta Kapoor.

Shukla, a native of Allahabad, suffered 45 per cent burns and is recuperating at Cooper Hospital, Vile Parle.

According to Oshiwara police officials, Shukla, who was living in Asaram Bapu’s ashram in Ahmedabad since six years, dreamed of making it big in Bollywood. Apart from his acting talent, he also wanted Kapoor to see the scripts and songs he had written.

On July 19, Shukla came to Mumbai from Ahmedabad. After making several inquiries about Kapoor’s office he made his way to Malad from CST station. “On realising that he was misled, Shukla stayed at a taxi stand in Appapada in Malad (east) for several days,” said inspector Dattatray Sankhe, Oshiwara police station.

After many days, Shukla finally got the exact address and went to meet Kapoor on July 28 at the Balaji office in Andheri. However, the guard at the entrance refused to allow him inside. A disappointed Shukla left and decided to try his luck next time.

On Tuesday morning, he once again came to the Balaji office. Taking advantage of the guests present at the venue to attend a pooja, Shukla managed to sneak inside the office.

However, once inside, Shukla was soon identified by the security guard, who shoved him out of the office. “The duo got into a heated argument and Shukla left in a huff warning the security guard that he will repent his actions,” said Sankhe.

Around 10.30 am, Shukla returned with a bottle of kerosene and again started to argue with the guard. When the latter still refused to let him in, Shukla set himself on fire.

Ram Bahadur, a local from the area, who had witnessed the whole event rushed forward to save Shukla and pushed him into a gutter nearby. After the flames were doused, he rushed Shukla to the hospital.

“In his statement, Shukla said that he was deeply insulted and thus decided to take the drastic step,” said Sankhe, adding, that a case of attempt to suicide was registered against Shukla.