Cold war between Riya and Minissha

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Minissha Lamba is angry with 'good friend' Riya Sen's betrayal. Lamba was to anchor the entire show at the Global Indian Film Awards, but Riya stepped in at the last minute and anchored the last segment with Arjun Rampal. This has irked her terribly.

Says a source close to Minissha, "She is very close to Raima, Riya's elder sister. A week before GIFA, she had dropped in to meet Raima and Riya at their home. Minissha was naturally excited about hosting the entire show with Arbaaz Khan, Rohit Shetty and Arjun Rampal and told the Sen sisters about it. At that point, Riya was not attending the awards show, forget anything to do with it.

A couple of days before GIFA, Minissha suddenly got a call from Riya saying she had been asked by the GIFA organisers to anchor the final segment with Arjun Rampal. She asked Minissha if she should do it. Minissha called up the organisers but they feigned ignorance. But the next day, it was a different story. Riya was doing the segment."

Pulling a fast one

The friend says that Minissha was shocked with Riya's manipulation. "She hasn't told Raima about it but Minissha's sure Riya pulled a fast one and got the organisers to rope her in at the last minute. Since then, it's been a cold war between Minissha and Riya. When they met at the GIFA, they exchanged formal pleasantries but refused to acknowledge each other after that. Normally they would have hung out together, but this time each chose to hang out with their own group of friends."

Does Minissha intend sorting this out with Riya? "No. Minissha is very upset and has no intentions of sorting it out with Riya. But she's very scared that it will affect her friendship with Raima and she doesn't want that."

No big deal

When contacted, Minissha didn't deny what happened but said diplomatically, "I don't want to judge anybody. I don't care whom Riya messes with; it's not that big a deal. At the end of day, these decisions are not mine to take. I was to do the whole segment with Arbaaz, Rohit and Arjun but I really don't know what happened at the last moment.

Changes happen all the time and everything is done at the discretion of the organisers. I was extremely happy to be a part of GIFA. I know Raima. She is a dear friend and a genuine girl. Please don't write anything that will affect my friendship with her. I guess I will have to be more careful from now on. We live and learn."

Meanwhile, Riya Sen maintained a 'no