Press Trust of India Posted online: Monday, September 26, 2005 at 1609 hours IST
Chennai, September 26: Taken aback by the outcry her remarks on premarital sex had generated in the state, South Indian actress Kushboo on Monday tendered an open apology to Tamils, especially women, saying she would never even dream of sullying the image of the Tamil people.
Cutting short her visit to Singapore where she had gone with her family, Kushboo, who flew back to the city on Monday, said, “even in films, I never undertook roles, which lowered the image of women”.
“I have the greatest regard for Tamils, especially Tamil women. If my remarks have hurt anybody’s feelings, I tender an apology. I am one among you and will always remain with you,” said the Mumbai-born actress and prima donna in Tamil cinema in the 90s, in a statement.
Meanwhile, a defamation suit has been filed on Monday in a city metropolitan magistrate’s court under Sec 499 and 500 of the IPC (Punishment for Defamation) against the actress. An effigy of the actress was also burnt in Salem city.
Some political parties and a few among the film fraternity in Tamil Nadu had taken offence to her remarks on premarital sex and had demanded an apology from the actress.
The actress had reportedly said in an interview to a magazine that it was fine for girls to indulge in premarital sex, but they should take care to avoid unwanted pregnancies and contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
She later justified her statement by saying that no educated man could expect his partner to be a virgin.
Kushboo is married to a Tamil film director. The couple have two children.
