Niki
Aneja is one of the few actors who decided to take on the might
of the powerful in the Indian television industry by seeking legal
recourse. Niki spoke to Harsha Khot of her accident and her determination
to come back to the medium that made her.
How
did the accident occur?
The fateful scene stipulated that I feign short-sightedness
as I have lost my contact lenses. The junior artiste (Manoj Uchani)
who played the stranger's role was to park the Maruti van to one
side, descend and ask me for directions. Instead of pulling up,
he applied the accelerator, hitting me and making me fall halfway.
Scared, he pressed further on the accelerator. I fell, the car
went over me and my back caught under the chassis, dragging me
for 10 metres.
By then, my shoulder and hand had been peeled badly and one side
of my body thoroughly bruised. My foot was badly cut. The unit
was too dazed to react, but I insisted that I be taken to Lilavati
hospital in Bandra.
What was the unit's reaction?
My director got to know that the junior artiste did not know
how to drive. The production manager had trained him in the rudiments
of driving two hours before the shoot, only to save Rs 1,500,
which he would have to pay someone who knew driving. Apparently
the director Nadeem Khan was not aware that the junior artiste
could not drive and was later furious with the unit. The whole
accident is on tape but they have refused to hand it over to me.
They paid Rs 50,000 in advance for tests and medical expenses,
which got over within two days because of the MRI scan, CT scans…
They have been avoiding all our phone calls for compensation ever
since. Meanwhile, the Aarey colony police filed an FIR against
the production house and recorded my statement after an inquiry.
Eventually, a middleman from the production house got a message
across to me that they are not willing to my pay my medical bills
because they thought that I had filed the FIR against them. This
was not true. I had simply answered the police inquiries as a
matter of protocol and was being victimised for it. I had to approach
the Cine & TV Artistes Association. They came to the hospital
and I filed a case.
How have the last few months been?
I was in hospital for three and a half weeks. I was on a
drip and I was taking 18 antibiotics for the blood clots on my
head and back. I had to under go numerous scans to keep a tab
on whether there is a foreseeable damage on my brain and back
because of those clots. I took physiotherapy for a while and then
left the country. I was too put off.
How do you feel about the industry?
That this industry is not worth it. There are hypocrites in
this industry. I feel every actor should insist on his/her security.
So many people have spoken to me of minor mishaps, which have
not been accounted for. For instance, if you slip on the net used
for lighting when you are on the staircase, you could fall on
your back and break your spine! Yet no one here would be bothered.
In the US, they would have paid my dues in billions. But it is
not a question of money. The question is how ethical have they
been towards others and me. I still get told, "Don't go to press
with this story or they'll bar you. They'll label you as taboo."
I am insured, but why should my personal insurance be used on
this?
The show has been taken off Star Plus because audiences were not
going to accept anyone else as the Gharwali. Of course,
they were still hoping that I would act in it again. Neerja Guleri
even said that 'the show will continue once Niki recovers'.
Do you intend to get back?
I am doing a thriller to be aired on Sahara TV. I am working
with people who are assuring me that precautions will be taken.
Now I am looking forward to work with the people who I know. People
who know and are aware about me now - the new mental state. And
now I am giving my life more priority than money. I don't mind
being 'Niki Aneja' anymore as long as I am sane and not hurt.
I don't say accidents won't happen, but I want to tell all the
production houses that for as little as Rs 3,000, you can medically
insure your main actor, just in case something happens.
I am asking the production houses to be more professional in their
approach towards their work. Even now, I feel extremely apprehensive
about getting back to this field. I feel betrayed by the industry
that I used to feel was a religion for me. I was religious about
my work.
