/> In an exceptional move, Shiva star Mohit Ahlawat is suing a newspaper that wrote he's on steroids.

He protests angrily, "I've never in my life touched steroids. It's a very dangerous accusation. I'm very health conscious. I remember how agitated I used to get when more senior actors with good bodies were said to be on steroids. I work hard on my body. I don't need steroids."

Incensed by what he sees as an attempt to defame him just before his new comeback vehicle Shiva is released, Mohit has decided to take stern legal action against the paper.

"My father is a retired lawyer. We have fifty lawyers who are still associated with my dad. I've spoken to my dad and his colleagues. They all advised me to sue the paper. I'm doing so right now."

Mohit is convinced jealous rivals are behind this move to malign him. "Some time ago there were some other defamatory stories against me. I know for fact that a Khan (he names a junior-level star son) had spread those rumours. I wouldn't be surprised if he's behind this latest attempt to bring me down just when Shiva is about to be released."

What gets Mohit's goat is the obvious under-mining of facts in the story. "They've written that I was asked to leave my previous gym because my fitness instructor found me to be on steroids, when in fact I left my earlier gym Zap five years ago to join my current gym Sykz because a friend Nitin Gupta invited me to join the other gym.

And my fitness instructor Pramod Dadlani came with me from the old to the new gym. He has been with me for eight years."

Visibly upset and determined to take legal recourse at the earliest Mohit says. "In Shiva I play this honest incorruptible cop who wants to change the system. Stories to hurt my image won't hurt my film. But they embarrass me. I'm the kind of guy who keeps to himself. I don't speak up unless I'm pushed to the wall.

Earlier it was written that I was fighting with my co-star Nisha Kothari on the sets when we barely exchanged a hello and bye on the sets. People can't bear the fact that Ramu is supporting me so openly. This steroids accusation is the limit. I don't think I should take this lying down."