Officially, he may not even be a film old in B-town, but the media speculation and conjecture surrounding this Bollywood newcomer is already that of an established star. No prizes for guessing this one ' we're talking of entertainment journalist turned Bollywood actor Anant Narayan who's in news yet again for allegedly refusing to do a cameo in Nikhil Advani's soon-to-be released Chandni Chowk to China'.
Just a day after Anant got back from Beijing, where he was attending the 2008 Summer Olympic Games as a proud representative of his country, Anant found himself amidst yet another controversy.
"I was in Beijing only to attend the Olympic Games. I had the time of my life cheering for India and meeting delegates from other nationalities. My heart went out to all our athletes who made every Indian proud by brilliant performances and their stupendous victories - a gold and two bronze medals in one Olympics - wow! They declared to the world that India will be a force to reckon with in the field of sports in the years to come", says Anant.
Talking about the so-called controversy, Anant says in an amused tone, "As for the new controversy brewing around me in India, let me clear this once and for all - I was in China only to attend the Beijing Olympics. I wasn't shooting for Nikhil Advani's Chandni Chowk to China, as being speculated by a certain section of the online film media. It was alleged that I had agreed to shoot a short cameo for the film and that I would be sharing a few crucial scenes with Deepika (Padukone), who is the leading lady of Akshay Kumar in CCTC. On my return from Beijing, when a few scribes asked me about these new rumours, I was nonplussed. I'm not denying that I have been in talks with some extremely well known producers and directors but just because I was away to China, the media assumed I must be doing the film (Chandni Chowk to China), but the truth is I wasn't even offered the role in the first place" says Anant.
On turning down one of the lead roles in a soon-to-be released big banner film, Anant says, "It's true that I was offered the role of a journalist in a soon-to-be released big banner film which I have finally refused. Having been a real life journalist, I just didn't want to carry that baggage on to the marquee as well and that too, in my debut film. It was a great role but I didn't want to get typecast in those kinds of roles so early on in my career. I am looking for something more challenging as my launch pad" says a confident Anant, putting yet another controversy to rest.