The Mumbai Mirror has reported the case of a model from Dehradun, 22-year-old Gauri Khan, who underwent a skin-lightening procedure at a spa co-owned by actress Shilpa Shetty but it went horribly wrong. The staff at the spa however denies negligence.
Gauri Khan wanted to become fairer but she ended up with her face disfigured after the chemical pigmentation programme went horribly wrong in Iosis spa, one of Mumbai's top-rated
Khan has now sent a legal notice to Iosis, jointly owned by Shilpa Shetty and Chandrakiran Kaur Bawa demanding Rs 17 lakhs in compensation, says the report.
Iosis lawyers have denied all of her charges alleging that she did not take adequate care while undergoing those treatments.
Shilpa Shetty, in addition to being a director and part-owner in the firm is also the brand ambassador of Iosis spa, and it was after seeing her endorsement that Gauri Khan claims she enrolled herself at the spa for the skin treatment. However a year down the line her visage is peeling, wrinkled and covered with ugly dark spots reducing a beautiful woman to move around with her face covered. In addition she claims that she has lost all possibilities of getting modeling work.
Gauri Khan has also registered a non-cognisable complaint at Oshiwara police station.
Says Gauri Khan: “I was always very presentable but decided to deal with the niggling issue of dull skin by going for the glow treatment at Iosis in June 2008. However within two-three months itself my skin began to deteriorate. I panicked but a doctor at Iosis kept assuring me that everything would be fine.”
“By January this year, my entire face was disfigured. When I asked the spa for my money back they flatly refused and when I pointed out about Shilpa Shetty endorsing the spa, Kiran Bawa told me, “Not everybody can become a Shilpa Shetty.” I am a model and my entire earning is dependent on my face. I told them, ‘I don't wish to be Shilpa Shetty but please give my face back.' I have lost everything.”
The spa staff, Khan alleges, told her that she would need to shell out extra money if she wanted further treatment on her disfigured face. Khan who belongs to Dehradun says she is determined to pursue her case against the spa.
Kiran Bawa the co-owner of Iosis, said, “I am aware of this person and whatever has happened is due to her own mistake.
We had told her categorically that she should not go out in the sun whilst under treatment but she did not pay heed.
Apart from that she also disappeared for three months during the treatment and one fine day turned up at the spa saying that she was a poor person, and that we should please return her money. My manager refused.
Now I am not someone who would cheat people for Rs 38,000 but this is the class and culture of these people. I have all the proof and pictures to prove that what I am saying is true.”
Mumbai Mirror reports that they are yet to receive those pictures from Kiran Bawa.
