/> TV actor Akashdeep Saigal's sore losing tactics on Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa has left the judges shell-shocked.

"You've fallen in my esteem," Akash told Farah while she sat in a shell-shocked stupor.

"I'm 30. And I know your age. We'll be both be around. Let's see what happens," he sniggered at Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Says Shilpa Shetty, "Akashdeep gave such a long speech, it was almost like he was getting the lifetime achievement. But jokes apart, his exit from Jhalak Dikhla Jaa could've been far more graceful. There was no need to be so ugly and unpleasant about the whole thing.

His remarks to Farah Khan were particularly hurtful and offensive. He had no business speaking like that. He has accused me of not using me own mind while judging his dance. Hello? I'm the one who has given Akash the highest marks. Why did he have to be such a bad loser?

Why couldn't he just accept the fact that others danced better than him instead of turning on the world at the moment of defeat? He says I consult the Jhalak creative head Sandip Soparrkar before making my comments.

In fact there's no time to consult anyone once the show is on. Once I reach the studio I'm immediately doing my job with no time to think otherwise."

A lot of people feel Akashdeep was allowed to get abrasive on camera to boost the TRPs. But Shilpa is defensive. "No one knew what he had in mind when he took off. Of course this is reality television. But none of us judges is going to allow our self-respect to be compromised for the TRPs."

The Channel heads are none too pleased with Akashdeep's farewell furore. Says a Sony source, "We certainly didn't expect this. And we do not endorse Akashdeep's behaviour. When we handed over the microphone to Akash we never expected him to create such a tamasha.

He just didn't stop his tirade against the judges. We felt very embarrassed. These judges are not ordinary people. They are super-achievers. Akash should have been more guarded in expressing his grievances"