Filmmaker and close friend of Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar is the latest to openly jump into the mudslinging campaign that surrounds actress Priyanka Chopra. Within hours of reading a report in a tabloid about Pee Cee’s friends hitting out at Gauri Khan’s coterie of friends, the director-producer tweeted, with obvious references to Priyanka, “Using their hired PR machinery and hiding behind so called ‘friends’ to get news into tabloids is nothing but spineless and lame! Some people need to wake up and smell the KOFFEE! Get a reality check before its too late! Grow up! And don’t mess with goodness.”
Priyanka’s friends of course didn’t spare an opportunity to attack Gauri. Gauri announced her debut as an interior designer on the cover page of a lifestyle magazine only two days ago. Her statement in the magazine was loud and clear. She insisted that she wasn’t just a “star wife”, a phrase so liberally targeted by Pee Cee’s friends.
From the legendary Amitabh Bachchan-Rekha liaison to the very recent Shah Rukh Khan-Priyanka Chopra alleged dalliance, extramarital affairs have been a part of superstar lives. The combination of successful, superstar and married men have always looked most attractive to the single actresses of the industry. The so-called Priyanka-Shah Rukh affair has, however, dragged in many other players. After admitting to her obsession and admiration for the superstar on national television, what followed were a series of cold vibes and bitching sessions courtesy Gauri’s friends Suzanne Roshan, Neelam and also filmmaker Karan Johar.
Priyanka had become the hot favourite of the most celebrated gang of Bollywood. From working with SRK in films like Don and Don 2, to working in the star’s best friend’s films Dostana and Agneepath, the Chopra girl became the toast of Bollywood. Directly or indirectly she was working with SRK’s close friends. So, how did the industry’s “lucky charm” become the black sheep? “Extramarital affairs have always ended on a bitter and messy note. Invariably, it’s the woman who is made to bear the brunt, while the man walks away guilt-free,” says a close source.
If loud whispers within the industry are to be believed, SRK’s alleged affair with Priyanka has come to a bitter end. Apparently that’s the reason she had asked her supposed friend to speak on her behalf in a tabloid. “Khan realised that his ultimate romantic hero image was at stake. His closeness to Priyanka was also putting a strain on his relationship with his children Aryan and Suhana. Smartly and most inevitably Khan put brakes on this affair,” a source says.
This is not the only relationship that has suffered. If friends of the actress are to be believed, “Karan defended Gauri earlier and was willing to take the risk of upsetting his best buddy SRK to prove his loyalties towards her. Things got bitter between Karan and SRK after the former axed Khan’s supposed ladylove from their circle. Why didn’t he call her nonviable and use social networking websites to tarnish her reputation during the promotions of his film and Priyanka-starrer Agneepath?”
With sources close to Priyanka accusing Karan of manipulation and betrayal, with friends of neither camp denying the affair and friends of both parties using the media and social networking sites, this is emerging as one crowded affair. Watch this space for more.