Bhajan singer Anup Jalota said today that his ‘relationship’ with model and singer Jasleen Matharu has always been that of a ‘guru-shishya’ (teacher-disciple) one and there was never any romantic angle to it. He went to the extent of saying that he and Jasleen’s father would perform ‘kanyadaan’ (a Hindu rite in which a father hands over his daughter to the groom) at her wedding.
“There was no romantic angle with her, zero, zero, zero”, he added.
Replying to questions from Rajat Sharma in the show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, to be telecast tonight at 10 pm on India TV, the 65-year-old bhajan and ghazal singer narrated in detail the circumstances in which he and 28-year-old Jasleen participated in Bigg Boss Season 12 hosted by Salman Khan. Jalota has exited the show, while Jasleen is due to stay on inside the Bigg Boss house till December 30.
“It was not an affair at all. Let people say what they want, it does not affect me the least. Jasleen has been learning music from me for the last three years. We used to visit each other at our houses and we also met at airports. One day, she persuaded me to join her in the Bigg Boss show. Initially I was reluctant, but she said we were to take part as a ‘vichitra jodi’ ( pair). After her father insisted, I agreed.
“Six days before Bigg Boss show was to begin, Jasleen was “whisked away” by the Bigg Boss team. There, on stage, she suddenly said, she had a three and a half year long relationship and we used to meet secretly. I remained silent. I wanted to carry on with the show, and decided to reveal all after we came out of Bigg Boss house. We would tell the world that there was no relationship between us.”
“I had clearly told Jasleen to say that it was a ‘guru-shishya’ relationship between us, but even in the promotional video, she did not say what I had told her. Anyway, let her come out of the Bigg Boss house. Jasleen was my student, she is my student, and she shall always remain my student. I and her father will perform the ‘kanyadaan’ at her wedding.”
When Rajat Sharma asked whether his image as a pious Bhajan singer has not been dented badly after this, Jalota replied: “I have a problem. I appeal to my fans not to treat me as a saint. When I sing bhajans, people think I too am a saint, but I am not. I am just a common man. In social get togethers and parties, I drink wine and eat whatever I want.”
Jalota revealed that he did not make any financial gain by taking part in the Bigg Boss show. ‘It was rather a financial loss for me, because I got less per week than what I used to earn from my shows.”
Jalota said, he had nurtured many singers in his 5-year-long career. “I helped Kanika Kapoor, Richa Sharma, Jaspinder Narula, and even Udit Narayan. I helped many girls, and boys too.”
Anup Jalota in Rajat Sharma’s show Aap Ki Adalat's repeat telecast will take place tomorrow Sunday at 10 am and 10 pm.
