Reports of Pakistani singer Adnan Sami breaking down and pleading before the service tax officials who grilled him on Tuesday, have left the singer amused and livid too, not to mention extremely embarrassed.
"First of all I wasn't grilled at all. The questioning was very cordial and mellow. Yes, it took time because it involved scrutiny of a lot of paper work. I had gone with all my relevant papers prepared to answer all the questions," said Sami.
"And I have to say Sameer Wankhede (deputy commissioner, service tax department) was very gracious polite and attentive. There was absolutely no stress. Where is the question of melodrama and hysterics?" he added.
He demanded to know where and how the details of what transpired during his meeting with the service tax official.
"It was a closed-door private governmental meeting. How could any journalist ever know what happened there, unless someone informs them? And in this case this is obviously not the case, as a lot of mawkish drama has been added on to my meeting with Sameer Wankhede," said Sami.
The Britain-born wonders if the person he read about on Wednesday morning was actually he!
"I am supposed to have broken down and pleaded for time. I am also supposed to have said I've no work except one Sanjay Gupta film. Firstly, if I had no work then what would I be doing in India? Secondly, pleading whining for time to pay up...that isn't me. Those who know me are laughing their heads off.
"Unfortunately, those who don't know me - and that's the majority of the people out there - would read this melodramatic bilge and presume I am this weakling who can't take the blows," he said.
Sighing deeply, he protests: "For the last four years my former wife has been showering harassment on me. I have not once broken down. Why would I break down in front of government officials? They are just doing their job and doing it politely.
"My duty is to go by the Indian laws. That's exactly what I am doing. As for turning my problems into a soap opera, I can only say I am glad I am providing entertainment to some people out there with more than just my songs."
