'Director Saami misbehaves with me' - Padmapriya

By: Settu Shankar
Monday, October 15, 2007

Padmapriya had leveled many charges including harassment and misbehavior on Saami, the director of Mirugam.

She met a section of media representatives today at the 'Four Frames' and explained what happened in the sets of Mirugam Yesterday evening.

The actress openly alleged that the director had tried to misbehave with her and when she resisted his 'attempts', he physically assaulted her in the sets of Mirugam.

It seems like Padmapriya almost shouted in the press meet. She abruptly told in a jarring tone, "Saami was behaving like a psycho in the sets. Even after shooting for hours, he was giving me trouble and tried to misbehave!'

But the actress wasn't ready to answer or explain about the kind of 'misbehavior' or 'attempts' which made the actress to walk out.

Padmapriya said: "The director called the sets to pack up for the day but insisted me to stay in the sets to shoot few more in the evening. When I questioned his motive, in a fit of rage, he started slapping me in front of everyone. Unable to tolerate the humiliation, I walked out of the sets. There is nothing true in his statement about my performance. I have completed 20 films in almost all the southern languages and won 13 awards. None could complain about my performance.'

On the director's charge that she could not emote well before the camera, Padmapriya said, ' I have acted in 20 films in various languages and won 13 awards for my acting skills.'

However she refused to lodge a police complaint on the director. "But I had filed a complaint on Saami in the Actors Association. Similar complaints will be given to Directors Union and Producers Council. They will take necessary action on the director…" she added.

On Friday the climax of the film Mirugam was shot at Korandi Village near Madurai. It was said that the actress took several takes to complete a particular scene. Before the director could complete her portion Padmapriya urged him to relieve her sharply at 6.00 pm. The irked Saami has criticized the actress that she had performed very poor and spoiled the whole day schedule.

Padmapriya began to question him and Saami lost his cool and vented his ire on her by slapping her in front of the public and unit people. Immediately Padmapriya burst out in tears and asked her Manager to launch a complaint against Saami at the Actors Association.

When asked about this incident, Saami told, "I never seen an actress as worst as Padmapriya in my career. She is such an arrogant and disobedient in the sets. And I am ready to face the consequences.