I was never seeing Shoaib Malik: Sayali Bhagat

Mumbai: Three days after the news of Sania Mirza marrying Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik broke out, the latter’s reported ex-girlfriend Sayali Bhagat also broke her silence. And what she told us was shocking to say the least.

“I was never seeing Shoaib. I met him when we both had signed a film together. When a film rolls out, there is always gossip about the lead pair seeing or dating each other and that happened to both of us too. Though the controversy was not true, I enjoyed the attention. In our profession any news is publicity, but now I had to come out and clarify the rumours because it was going way above my head. My family has been getting incessant calls and is being harassed for no fault of their own,” Sayali says.

What she says only brings out the workings of Bollywood today. She admits she is now paying the price of the publicity machinery that makes sure the spotlight is maintained on the film.

“What I am facing today is the price of publicity. I was dating someone else when the rumour of Shoaib and me broke and my relationship was affected,” she says.

She also reveals to us how this gossip about her getting married took shape. “I got to know Shoaib when we were offered a film together. Despite agreeing to the offer, the producer and director (Wilson Louis) could not sell Shoaib as he was a Pakistani cricketer. Meanwhile, 26/11 happened which meant the production house could not market Shoaib as a hero at any cost. I’m just 24 and there is lots of time to get married. I’m not desperate to get married,” she says.

She adds, “Whenever I met Shoaib, I never met him alone. But gossip happened and any news is publicity for a film. So, I was silent but I am glad that I’ve spoken the truth today. It was required to stop speculations.”