Every time there's a scandal regarding indecent pictures of celebrities the explanation is almost always the same... "That wasn't me. That was my morphed picture."
Model-turned- actor Himanshu Malik who was introduced by Anubhav Sinha in the love triangle Tum Bin some years ago and who has thereafter done films like J.P. Dutta's LOC, Mahesh Manjrekar's Rakht and Govind Menon's Khwahish (yes, Himanshu is the guy who smooched Mallika 37 times) frankly confesses to being nude on the net.
When some months ago his nude pictures were splashed on several mainstream and porn websites Himanshu was surprised.
So was he scandalized and angry?
"Not at all! I checked out the pictures after I was told about them. They're mine all right. And I don't deny them at all. I had shot them with a well-known photographer when I was 21," says the actor.
He laughs, "Look, a lot of our actors have a shameful past. Sly Stallone started in porno movies. I know of some actors and actresses in Bollywood who have featured in blue films. I did none of that.
But when I came to Mumbai from Delhi things weren't easy for me. I was propositioned and treated like a sex object everywhere. I stood my ground."
So....er, the nudes? "During my days of early struggle I was spotted at a restaurant by a photographer. He kept looking intently at me. Since I was used both men and women making passes at me, I ignored him.
He
then came up to me and asked me if would like to pose for him....in the buff. At first I was revolted. But then when
he showed me the concept, I happily agreed. We shot some very aesthetic pictures in his studio. Of course I stripped to my birthday suit. I'm not the least conscious of my body. I've a good physique and I don't mind flaunting it.
But there was no frontal nudity. Thank God! Otherwise I'd have to give my daughter a lot of answers when she grew up." So how does it feel to be part of cyber porn? "I don't think about it. The pictures are part of my wild past when I did many unthinkable things. Today at 30 I've a beautiful wife and lovely baby girl. My career in films hasn't taken off.
But I'm on the verge of signing two important films. I'm not ashamed of the pictures. We all have a past. We should be able to look at what we've done without regret or guilt
