Thaindian News

By Radhika Bhirani
New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) Senior criminal lawyer S.G. Abbas Kazmi, who was sacked as the counsel for 26/11 terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, says people will see his fearless personality on “Bigg Boss 4.” He also clarifies that he is not on the show for an image makeover.

“I love interesting challenges in life. I think it is going to be quite a wonderful experience living with strangers under one roof and coping with them and their daily habits. It’s going to be quite a challenge and I am ready to face it boldly,” Kazmi, 55, told IANS on phone from Lonavala near Mumbai before entering the “Bigg Boss” house.

“People will really get to see my ‘dabang’ (fearless) personality on the show and my maturity. So watch out for me and support me,” he said.

The show went on air Sunday on Colors channel.

Kazmi shot into limelight when he became the lawyer for Kasab, the only 26/11 terrorist to have survived. However, he was sacked for non-cooperation in the case last year. He has also done bit roles in Bollywood.

Before entering the “Bigg Boss” house, Kazmi seemed somewhat flustered.

“A publication has reported that I have been requesting the channel to be on the show. But let me clarify, the channel has been chasing me for the past six months and I never approached them. I may take legal action against the publication when I am done with the show,” he said.

The publication claimed that Kazmi’s motive behind entering the show is his desire to “clear up his public image”.

Lashing out against the report, he said: “My image is very well-established. I do not need a platform to cleanse my image. My colleagues appreciated what I did and the way I handled the case. I have done wonderfully for my life, so I don’t need any such platform to clear my image or anything as such,” added the lawyer.

Usually glamorous models, item girls and controversial actors are invited to stay in the “Bigg Boss” house, but this is the first time a lawyer has got an entry on the show, an Indian version of the popular international show “Big Brother”.

“My personality commands my presence on the show. After all, the channel doesn’t bring any Tom, Dick and Harry on the show. Besides, if I am controversial in their eyes, so be it. But what I did in Kasab’s case was what any professional would have done,” said Kazmi who had earlier handled controversial cases like the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the Gulshan Kumar murder case.

What will he do if his “Bigg Boss” inmates ask him about his interactions with Kasab?

“Whatever I speak will be under legal parameters and admissible. I know my limitations,” he said.

But for now, he is upbeat about spending time in “Bigg Boss”, which is being hosted by Bollywood star Salman Khan this season.

The show has 14 contestants locked up inside a house for three months without any connection with the outside world and under the constant surveillance of cameras. The one-hour daily show went on air Sunday.

(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)