Miilee has been splattered in the news for two weeks' now, and for all the wrong reasons. And then, today's report that has producer Vinta Nanda exonerating Kiran Kumar of the charges of having instigated the crew into walking out of the set last week. Vinta apparently has also brushed away all allegations she made against the veteran actor, who is said to have stood up for the rights of the Miilee unit. Riya V Anandwala decided to give Kiran Kumar an opportunity to air his side of the story.

Kiran Kumar

Is it true that workers in the Miilee unit were facing a problem?

Yes, the workers were not paid for over two months! And if they come up to me and tell me about their problem, what should I say - go to hell, it's not my problem? I took the stand that my workers be paid on time.

I have stood up once, and I will do so another 1000 times. I feel bad when something of this sort happens with workers. We are working with the best in the industry, so why should such a situation arise at all? It shouldn't happen with anyone at all.

If we actors are not paid on time, it is not a glitch. But how can one not pay the workers on time? We keep changing our assignments, but for them, this is their only income! They have their children's school fees, rations to pay for, after all!

Holier than thou?

I am the second most senior actor on the show, but I am not a union leader or someone who is there to initiate a strike! I am going to meet these workers at every step of my life and if I didn't help them today, it would have been very irresponsible of me.

Vinta's quote

Well! In today's newspapers, Vinta has denied the allegations against me. So I basically don't have anything to say. I will give her the benefit of doubt.

Kiran Kumar: has been doing the No 1 show Detective on DD since three years now!

"I will never leave Miilee"

Vinta's denied everything she said about me earlier, so perhaps she was misquoted!

I have never been insecure about my work, if I wish, I could work 40 days a month! I will never leave Miilee, but yes, if they ask me to leave, I will surely do that!

I am what I am!

I will never change for anyone in my entire life for this particular reason. I don't really count my virtues, but compassion is something I do have! I can't endure injustice, either by a friend or a relative. My wife knows me very well, everyone around me knows and respects me for this.

Last words

All I want to say is, I thank you Vinta, for paying the workers!

Vinta Speaks!

Everything is said and done now! It happens with every one, every production house faces some or the other problem with their cast and crew and I too went through the same thing. It was made into a story which it never was, completely blown out of proportion. Talking about the quote which was printed a few days back in a news sheet, was completely unfounded, i never said and meant anything of that sort. Kiran and i have been in the industry for a very long time, and neither of us will solve the problem in this way!