Celina waiting for justice

Celina Jaitley would never have expected that a photoshoot she did last year would come back to haunt her.

But it has — in the form of a gadget ad, which features the actress wearing panties that have the words ‘slide to unlock’ written across them. The pictures, which have been morphed, says Celina, have appeared on two websites. She is livid at their misuse and has taken the matter to the cyber crime department. “The law has to take its course now. I want to make sure that people who have harmed my reputation will be prosecuted. I’m sure the police will help me with that,” said Celina. But will she get justice?

Unlikely, say cyber law experts, because in the nine years of the Indian IT Act’s existence, there have been only four cyber crime convictions, and only two relating to pornography. And recent amendments to the Act have ensured that the laws are much softer on cyber criminals. The biggest problem, though, is the lack of enforcement, says cyber law expert Na Vijayshankar. “There is a general lack of interest in the police force in following up cyber crime complaints, especially those related to publishing or transmitting, or causing to be published or transmitted in the electronic form any material that contains a sexually explicit act or conduct. Moreover, most porn-related complaints are filed by individuals, who, with time, may not push for justice,” he explains.

Though cyber law expert Pavan Duggal also berates the lack of enforcement of cyber laws, he adds in the defence of the enforcers that most cyber crime cells don’t have the wherewithal to seize, preserve and produce (with tampering) electronic evidence required for convictions. “There is also a lack of political will. They don’t want to litigate cyber cases as these are mostly transnational crimes with perpetrators outside the country. We don’t have stringent laws for such cases,” he says.

And the amendments to the IT Act that were made effective Feb 5, 2009 have not helped the cause, say experts. “The amendments have covered newer crimes, but have gone soft on criminals as the quantum of punishment has gone down,” says Vijayshankar. Moreover, cyber crimes have now become bailable offences, adds Pavan. “It encourages the perpetrator to destroy electronic evidence once out on bail. And even if you are convicted, you get a maximum sentence of three years, down from five years earlier,” he says.

In Pics: Celina Jaitly Meets the Media

Want to join Celina

I myself am a straight woman with a whole lotta balls,” is how actress Celina Jaitly introduces herself on her blog on itimes.

Calling herself “a film star by profession and a gay rights activist by humanity,” Celina champions the cause of homosexuals and talks about how Article 377 is a hurdle in letting them live life their way.

While celebs and causes go pretty much hand in hand these days, Celina is quite serious in her intent to draw attention and support towards this issue. The actress has created a community on itimes for equal rights for the gay community, and asks everyone to join her petition to the health ministry seeking amendment to Section 377. So, let’s join Celina in her fight for equal rights. Celina wants your support. Time to act, right? To join Celina’s campaign, visit itimes.com

Morphed Celina selling gadgets on net

Celina Jaitley registers a complaint with the cyber crime department against a website, which morphed her pictures to make her look obscene

Celina Jaitley was shocked when she learnt that her pictures from a photo shoot have been morphed to titillate and are being used by a website to sell gadgets. Livid at such crass misuse of her pictures in which the words on her panty reads 'Slide to unlock' , Celina has taken the matter to the cyber crime department.

A miffed Celina said, This is the price one has to pay to be part of the glamour world. When I got to know about it, I personally checked the website. I could not believe it, the pictures were gross. I have heard that these things happen but using my picture to sell some stuff on the Net is disgusting. We have already informed the cyber crime department and they will soon take action against whosoever is responsible for this shameful act.

A source said, Celina has spoken to her security agency managed by Ronit Roy and they have registered a complaint with the cyber crime department. She recalled that the pictures on the website are the ones for which she had shot more than a year ago. Back then, she had issues with the photographer because of which she had walked out of the shoot. In spite of following up with the photographer for over a year, he refused to part with the pictures. Looks like he sold these pictures to smalltime agencies, which passed them on to the website.

Celina added, I remember when I had shot for the pictures. I trust the cops and will wait for the law to take its own course.

Celina stands for gay rights

Calling all gay rights activists, readers, sympathisers and sensitive people to come out in the open, like former Miss India Celina Jaitly has, through her blog on iTimes.

Yes, the Bollywood beauty has written in a bold and forthright manner on the raw deal given to gays in India and invited support for her crusade for the amendment of Article 377.

Writes Celina, “This law has been used to systematically persecute, blackmail, arrest and terrorise sexual minorities. The legislation was introduced by British colonial authorities and does not reflect Hindu cultural values... India needs to shrug off its colonial mentality and come out of its all-prevalent homophobia. It appalls and dismays me to see the attitude of Indian people towards homosexuals/bisexuals – they’re subject to really insensitive jokes/comments and open derision.”

To read Celina Jaitly’s complete and thought-provoking blog, go onto the Times Group’s exciting new social networking site – register on iTimes and click on Fan Clubs. Then, after you have become a member, join her petition to the Union Health Ministry to have Article 377 amended.

In Pics: Audio Release Of Paying Guest

What's happening in Bollywood!

Handsome men and others

Garnier’s New Man: John Abraham will be the ‘pretty face’ of Garnier’s new men’s range of skin creams


Paying Guest’s: The cast of laughriot Paying Guest, Ashish Chaudhary, Shreyas Talpade, Celina Jaitley, Riya Sen, Sayali Bhagat, Vatsal Seth and Javed Jaffrey were in their back to school get-up at the music launch of their movie.

Paying Guest - Wallpapers

Paying Guest - First Look

What's happening in Bollywood!

One starry condolence meet and SRK's big bad van

Here’s the family: Late Feroz Khan’s family, son Fardeen and daughter Laila Khan walk out of J W Marriot post the condolence meeting.


Family man: Hrithik Roshan stands out at the venue. Is he waiting for media to click more pictures?


His women: One of Feroz Khan’s women, Celina Jaitley, makes an entry into the venue to show support to the grieving family. She looks much toned down than usual.


Colour me pretty: Ameesha is the only one to appear in more than just white. She does show a lot of disappointment.


Yeh Mannat Nahi Hai: With his big new van blocking most of the entrance, SRK’s Mannat doesn’t look the same anymore. What happened to briefing up security?

Celina Jaitley denied entry in dad's pub

Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley was denied entry in a Bangkok pub and restaurant owned by her dad, courtesy the short school uniform which she was wearing.

The guards not only failed to recognise her but also suspected her to be underage and stopped her from going inside.

Celina was shooting for "Paying Guest" in Bangkok and one of the sequences required her along with the other leading ladies Neha Dhupia, Riya Sen and Sayali Bhagat to be dressed in a school uniform.

Why did she choose to hop over to the pub dressed like that?

"First and foremost I had no clue that guards would stop me at the gate. Also, I was in the middle of a sequence and didn't feel like getting in and out of costumes. I was anyways enjoying myself in a school dress and though it may have scandalised quite a few out there, I didn't mind that at all," Celina told IANS.

"In the first place, it was anyway quite funny to be dressed in a tight white shirt, red and black short skirt, hair band, white socks and black shoes. And then this incident happened where I was denied entry in my own pub. It was as funny as it could have got," she added.

Celina tried to catch the attention of her dad through the glass pane. She waved at him and shouted along till the time he managed to realise her presence at the pub.

"Imagine his shock at seeing his girl dressed up like this. He was in a meeting with his business associates and they all had a collective expression of disbelief on their faces. My dad just came out, spoke to me for a while, lent me some money for shopping and went back in. He was so sure that he didn't want a girl who may not have been underage but definitely looked like one get into his pub. For him, rules are rules," she said.

After this, Celina walked into the nearest luxury mall for shopping.

"I made sure that I blew away all the money that I had laid my hands on. I wasn't allowed to get into the pub and I vowed to make up for that lost opportunity," she said.

Directed by first timer Paritosh Painter and produced by Subhash Ghai, "Paying Guest" also stars Shreyas Talpade, Ashish Chaudhary, Javed Jaffrey and Vatsal Sheth and Celina says: "It was back to being in school and eight of us were having a rollicking time."

The film is ready and the release date would be announced after the stand off between producers and multiplexes is resolved.