On October 23, actress Luviena Lodh issued a video message on Instagram and accused Mahesh Bhatt and his family of harassing her. Luviena claimed that she is married to Mahesh's nephew Sumit Sabharwal and said she has filed for divorce. Alleging that people have lost their jobs because of Mahesh, she addressed him as the 'biggest don of the industry'. In the video, she went on to also name Mukesh Bhatt, Sahil Sehgal and Kumkum Sehgal. Now, two days later, Mukesh broke his silence and issued a statement regarding Luviena's claims. The producer clarified that Sumit is just an employee of his company Vishesh Films for over 20 years and isn't related to the family otherwise.
"As mentioned in our defamation plaint submitted in the courts today, that Mr. Sumit Sabharwal is only an employee in my production company Vishesh Films for over 20yrs as opposed to Ms. Luviena Lodh’s claims that he is our relative in various media reports and publications. Ms. Luviena Lodh has consciously and maliciously orchestrated a campaign along with her benefactors to nefariously defame and besmirch the good name and reputation of my brother and myself with the sole and ulterior motive to garner publicity in the hopes that the same would motivate a lucrative out of court settlement in her matrimonial dispute with Sumit. We have the highest faith in our judicial system and intend to see this suit to its logical end," Mukesh's statement read.
Sumit, in his statement issued by his lawyers, also stated that he isn't related to the Bhatts apart from being an employee of Vishesh Films. "We stand concerned for our client Mr Sumit Sabherwal. The claims and contents of the video being circulated by our client's estranged wife Mrs Luveena Lodh are denied in toto. Our client expresses his deepest regret that the good name of Mr Mahesh Bhatt and Mr Mukesh Bhatt is being sullied solely due to his pending (since 2016) matrimonial dispute with his wife. It is made amply clear that our client is merely an employee of M/s Vishesh Films Pvt Ltd and NOT related to either of the Bhatt Brothers, as falsely and maliciously been sought to be made out by the video in the question. Every attempt being made in order to formulate a relation between our client and the Bhatt brothers must be construed as a well-crafted conspiracy to precipitate and motivate a lucrative 'settlement' for her disputes with our client; as is amply made clear in her interviews as well. Out client has the highest regard for the judiciary of our country and reserves his actionable claims against Mrs Luveena Lodh for charges as and when he may institute against her," the statement read.
(Source: Instagram)
