Television cum film actress Gauhar Khan was embroiled in an ugly controversy when a man from the audience of a reality show jumped on stage to slap her while she was hosting the finale. The man named Mohammad Akil Malik slapped Gauhar stating that as a Muslim woman she was "inappropriately dressed".

He was subsequently arrested but now the controversy has taken an ugly turn, as he has now went on record to claim that he was paid by Gauhar to pull this off as a publicity stunt.

When Gauhar was asked to comment on the same, the actress rubbished the statement."This is my one and only response to the most ridiculous claim made by an accused who attacked me, went to jail for it and came out only to prove even more what a threat he is to normal living in India for girls, and also the weak stature even the media gives to a girl who especially belongs to the film or TV world," she said in an official statement.

She further stated that it is obviously a made up story. "It's a filmi story obviously recommended by people who believe that our law will let him get away with such baseless stories. I have never in my life met this man before I saw him charging at me," she added.