Mumbai, Jul 4: The cine-wings of Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have expressed opposition to Maria Susairaj, a convict in the 2008 Neeraj Grover murder case, to be cast in any film or a television show.
According to media reports, film-maker Ram Gopal Varma has expressed interest in casting Maria for a role in his next film. Stories of Maria to be a part of the next season of Bigg Boss also made rounds, even though Colors channel, which airs the reality show, dismissed these speculation yesterday.
On Ram Gopal Varma's offer, Shiv Sena-promoted Bharatiya Chitrapat Sena's (BCS) president Abhijit Panse said, “Varma is a big director. But since his films are not doing well at the box-office he is doing such publicity stunts.”
Panse also warned of carrying out “Shiv Sena style” protests, if any film-maker casts Maria in a film.
On the likelihood of Maria's inclusion in Bigg Boss, Panse said, “There is a trend coming up in television reality shows to cast a person with a criminal background—like Bunty Chor, who was cast in season 4 of Bigg Boss. And now, they are taking a murderer.”
Maharashtra Navnirman Cine Workers' Association also opposed casting of Maria in Bigg Boss. President of MNCWA Amey Khopkar said, “Maria has a criminal background and therefore we don't want to see her in films or television shows.”
“Any film-maker or production house that intents to offer her a role or show, should be prepared to face our wrath,” he added.
On Thursday, former Navy officer Emile Jerome and his girlfriend Susairaj were awarded rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and 3 years in the Neeraj Grover murder case.
However, on Saturday, Maria walked free out of jail, as she has already spent the term behind the bars. PTI
