Reacting to Shashi Ranjan's allegations about not allowing her actors to participate in Ranjan's Indian Television Awards last weekend, Ekta Kapoor expresses hurt and anger in no uncertain terms.

"I had made it clear that, since my flagship show Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi wasn't nominated I never wanted to go for the Awards or make the effort to write the script for my soap in a way that would free my actors to attend the Awards.

They had to shoot and naturally that was top priority for us. Someone from the Awards committee called and requested us to adjust our schedules so the actors could attend. I told them I'd try.

Not once did I ask for the winners' list, as alleged by them, nor did I mention the absolute blacking-out of Kyunkii from their nominations. I was told by a Zee authority that my serial Kkasam Se and its leading man Ram Kumar will win."

She can't get over the way her most popular serials were ignored. "Since Star Plus didn't sponsor the Indian Television Awards they didn't want to give Kyunkii any nominations. In fact the only Star serial nominated in the popular categories is off air now!"

Ekta pauses for breath and declares, "That's when we decided we at Balajee Telefilms wanted to be no part of this blatant charade. In two days before the awards I told Ram Kumar on the sets in front of everyone that he'll win. He graciously replied he'd rather complete the episode than attend the Awards. The whole unit of Kkkasm Se witnessed what Ram said."

As for asking for the winners' list, Ekta smirks, "I knew the winners from before, I didn't need a list. When they got to know I was upset they offered to 'adjust' whatever show I wanted. I refused to accept this candy offering.

Still I sent the actors for the Awards. But I repeat I never asked for a winners' list, and never mentioned any such thing to Shashi Ranjan or his wife Anu. God is my witness."

Ekta gets emotional. "It's not in my breeding to play such dirty games. I'm too dignified to stoop to such levels. And yes, just to let the actors of Kkasam Se attend the Indian Television Awards I reluctantly altered my script. The Ranjans are lying if they say I asked for a list of winners."

But most in the entertainment industry are shocked and appalled by Ekta's such comment. Seniors from the industry attended the press conference to vindicate the selection process of the Hero Honda Indian Television Academy (HHITA) award.

"I challenge Ektaa to show proof of her receiving even one phone call from Shashi in the last six years and any calls post 7.30 pm on November 23 from me and if she can't, then, I demand a public apology from her," says Anu on Ektaa's claims that the duo kept calling her when six actors expressed their inability to perform at the HHITA award night.

"We immediately replaced them with Mandira Bedi, Rohit Roy, Karan Wahi, Jasweer Kaur, Aman Verma and Karishma Tanna and frankly, these celebs only enhanced our show," adds Anu.

On Star TV refusing to be the telecast partner if their shows weren't picked as winners, Anu rubbishes it saying, "Over the years we have rotated our telecast partners from Sony, Doordarshan, Star and now Zee, for the simple reason of not succumbing to any pressure in the jury deciding the winners. We have a no-objection from Star in September so there are no issues with them."

‘We never expected Ektaa to attend because she had informed us 25 days in advance that she would be in Delhi. And we don't change the date of our event for any one individual. When she slaps a case against Salil Ankola on the basis of a contract, then it is legitimate but when we do the same, we become liars.

She says the actors had urgent scenes to shoot but all the actors were seen for hours at an event the day before HHITA." says Anu.