Kamaal Rashid Khan today said actor Ajay Devgn's move to release the audio of the former "Bigg Boss" contestant's admission that he was paid to tweet in favour of "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" was just a way to target filmmaker Karan Johar.
Devgn's "Shivaay" and Johar's romantic drama will fight it out at the box office next month.
Last evening, Devgn tweeted audio of a purported conversation between KRK and "Shivaay" producer Kumar Mangat, where the latter is heard asking him why was he writing flattering things about "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" and criticising Devgn's film.
KRK is heard replying, "Have to tweet good things about Karan Johar's film, he paid me 25 lakhs."
KRK said Ajay does not have any "emotional connect" with the industry, as mentioned by the actor in his statement last night, and was merely using him as a scapegoat.
"I feel that this isn't about Ajay's emotional connection with the industry, it is only a matter of money. Ajay is targeting Karan by using my name as he wants to drag the matter to the court," KRK told reporters here.
While Karan has maintained silence on the matter, Ajay last evening demanded an investigation as to whether the filmmaker bribed KRK.
KRK said Johar never paid him to badmouth any film.
"Karan never asked me to badmouth any film. I've been made a scapegoat. Everyone believes that by associating with me they will gain publicity. I'd only like to ask Ajay to fight it out with Karan Johar, one-on-one, like men do."
Both Devgn and Johar have a lot riding on their respective movies. Ajay makes a comeback to direction with "Shivaay" which he has said is his most ambitious project, and Karan has gone behind the lens with his Ranbir Kapoor-starrer after a gap of four years.
The movies arrive this Diwali, October 28.
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Devgn has now said he only wanted to make things clear about what KRK had said in the audio.
"We have only made you aware of what KRK has said. KRK is contradicting himself in explanations about what he has said in the recording and what we all have just heard in his postured press conference," Ajay said in a statement this evening.
"He has not denied that it was his voice in the recording and he is now making excuses and contradicting himself. Where is the sanity here? You have heard what I have heard. It is up to you all to decide. It's his word against his own word. I have never in my life spoken to nor met this man," Ajay added.
