Saif Ali Khan says brawl is not a publicity stunt

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, who has been accused of punching an NRI businessman on his nose said that the brawl is not a "publicity stunt" and he feels sorry for what has happened.

The 41-year-old actor was arrested and released on bail last night after Indian origin South African national Iqbal Meer Sharma complained that Saif had assaulted him at the Taj Mahal hotel in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

At a press conference here for his upcoming film Agent Vinod, Saif said, "This is not a publicity stunt (for the film). I hope this matter gets sorted out soon," he said, reiterating that he could have handled the situation in a better way but it didn't happen.

Saif Ali Khan was honest to add, “I feel sorry for what has happened." The incident took place at the Wasabi restaurant in the hotel where the actor was dining with his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, producer Bilal Amrohi, Malaika Arora Khan and her sister Amrita Arora Ladakh who was accompanied by husband Shakeel Ladakh.

Saif has filed a counter complaint against Sharma, saying that he acted only in defence after the businessman's father-in-law hit him and the duo abused the ladies with him. He claimed innocence saying the charge against him was "false". PTI reported Saif Ali Khan as saying, "I was hit first. And as shocking as it may seem, the elderly gentleman hit me. I'm not sure what provoked him. I was only defending myself. I don't think any gentleman would have behaved any differently than what I did. I am confident that justice will be done. I think they (police) have the CCTV footage from the restaurant and that will prove everything," Saif said last night.