Jatra owner was forcing me for physical relationship: Former actress

Tulasi Gananatya owner Ananta Narayan Dhal, widely known as Nandu babu, is once again embroiled in another controversy. Former actress of the party, Pooja Das, has accused him of coercing her into a physical relationship.

"I was booked as an actress in the party to play the role of second lead with a contract of Rs 8 lakh. When I went there, my contract amount was increased to Rs 14 lakh. When I asked about it to Nandu Babu, he said that my acting is so good as narrated by others at the party, and he will take care of the increased contract price. He gave me Rs 10,000 when I went to the 'Akhada'. He took special care of me for a couple of days, and an attendant was kept for me. However, I grew suspicious when my contract amount was instantly increased from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 14 lakh," said Pooja.

"When I asked Nandu babu about the reason, Nandu babu told me that he had spoken with my mother, and I am a poor girl. He further told me that other actors at the party are saying that my acting is very good. He advised me to concentrate on my work, and he will take care of the payment. Later, I came to know that he had something else on his mind. He called me through his manager near the 'akhada' place. The manager asked me to agree with Babu (Nandu Babu) by touching me inappropriately. He then told me to sleep with Nandu Babu. I felt very bad about the incident and went to my room. Nandu Babu called me again and asked me to come to a hotel of his choice by luring me to gift a flat in Bhubaneswar and gold ornaments. I am telling the truth. When Nandu Babu was facing the allegations, he was very nervous while giving a byte on the television as he knew the truth and he was finding it tough to face it. He persuaded me to agree. However, I refused his proposal and told him that he was like a father figure and I didn't expect this kind of behaviour from him," she further said.

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"Then I came back to my room angrily and cried a lot. Subsequently, I called him and said that he didn't behave properly with me. I also warned to register a case against him. Then he called me near him again and told me to forget about the matter. He also told me not to tell the matter to anyone and concentrate on the rehearsal. I continued my work. However, he nursed a grudge against me. As he can't fire me directly because of my allegation against him, he pressured other artistes who went on ragging me. Eventually, I asked him to fire me from the party instead of harassing me. He called a meeting with some senior lady artistes. Senior artistes like July Apa and Reena Apa spoke in my favour. However, Sonali (Panda) Apa directly told me to leave the party. How come actresses like her directly speak against another actress? Subsequently, Nandu Babu used abusive language against me and told me to leave the party. In the evening, he called another meeting and choked my neck forcefully, asking me to sign an agreement paper to return the contract amount," she added.

Owner Refutes Allegations

However, Dhal refuted all the allegations against him, terming them as baseless.

"She (Pooja) had come to Bhubaneswar in 2024. She had signed a contract amount of Rs 4 lakh. However, when she joined the party, her hand was broken and she was not in a position to continue the rehearsal. Then I asked her to return the amount and leave the party after two days. However, she expressed her inability to return the amount and asked for some time. She has already signed the agreement in this regard. However, she didn't return the amount, and we moved court over the matter. She was issued notice by the court. How is it possible that we harassed her mentally in just two days, and 600 people couldn't know about it? It is a conspiracy against me. Those who have not returned money have formed a group and made this kind of plan. All her allegations are baseless," said Dhal.