The popular belief is that stars wouldn't do anything without being paid, but this case was certainly different. Turns out that when Juhi Chawla was requested for her presence for a good cause, it was her turn to be fleeced.
The actress recently had given her consent to be part of a public service campaign to save the girl child, initiated by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, in return of a nominal fee. She had planned to donate this fee to a particular NGO she supports.
What was communicated...
It is learnt that early last October, the actress received a letter from a certain Rajesh Gupta of Narmada Films communicating to her on behalf of the MP Government.
A formal note (with the letterhead of Narmada Films) informed her about the campaign, Beti Bachhao Abhiyaan (Save The Girl Child), initiated by Chief Minister, Mr Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
The letter went on to state that Juhi's bytes supporting the cause would be used as part of the campaign for two years in Madhya Pradesh only.
Bounced cheque
Our source says, "Juhi requested that they don't issue the cheque in her name, but leave the space blank so she could hand it over to one of the NGOs she supports." Soon afterwards, she received the cheque (numbered 005011 of ICICI Bank, Four Bungalows, Andheri West Branch) from the office of Narmada Films, which she later gave to Asian Cancer Foundation. However, a few days later she got a call from the foundation saying the cheque had bounced.
Post that, Chawla got her office to follow up with Narmada Films on the issue. But apparently there has been no response from their end.
Rajesh Gupta of Narmada Films conceded that Chawla had asked to leave the space blank for the payee's name in the cheque/demand draft. "However, we've made the payment and there are no dues pending towards Juhiji from our end," he maintained.