The producer of Arjun Rampal's next film Daddy says that they did indeed meet jailed gangster Arun Gawli while he was in hospital last December but that it was a chance meeting. Some days ago, Mr Rampal was summoned by Mumbai's JJ Mary police station for meeting Mr Gawli without court permission. (Also Read: Arjun Rampal Summoned by Police Over Alleged Meeting With Arun Gawli)
A statement from Daddy producer Mandar Dalvi read: "Yes, Arjun and I ( Mandar Dalvi) met Arun Gawli in JJ hospital while we where on a recce. It was a sheer coincidence as we literary bumped into each other through sheer coincidence in the lobby. We are responsible and aware as a production house about the mandatory rules and regulations of the law and will abide by them. The police officials have been very cooperative and have advised us on the way forward in this matter. We are very grateful to them. We are now working on getting all permissions with regards to this. Hopefully we will have them in place at the earliest. There is no offence we have done and the police are very well aware of that."
Arjun Rampal's statement was recorded by the cops yesterday. He told them that he had been stopped by the guard at the state run JJ Hospital when he was scouting for locations, but Mr Gawli came out and they spoke for five minutes.
Arun Gawli is serving a life sentence for murder in Mumbai's Taloja jail. Mr Dalvi's statement also said: "Since the film will be based on Arun Gawli, it is imperative for the actor and director to interact with him. We will be abiding with all rules and regulations of the law in order to meet with him. It is a very important part of the research and development."
Daddy is directed by Ashim Ahluwalia. Arjun Rampal also stars in Roy, releasing next week.
