In a statement from London, Zaetta said: “It’s complete made-up lies... (and) apart from being hurtful it’s damaging to a woman’s career, to her reputation and I wish someone had come and asked me before there was any documentation... Perhaps I do feel like I need an apology because not only my family name but my career which I have worked very hard for is suddenly at stake here.”

In Bollywood, Zaetta was known as AXN channel’s Who Dares Win girl. She had an impressive CV, including a stint in one of the most watched television shows in the world, Baywatch.

Born to an Italian father and Australian mother, Zaetta’s first contact with India was a trip to the Himalayas with her mother. She was apparently inspired by her self-help guru, Shannah Kennedy, to try her luck in Bollywood.

Her big break came in 2003, when she got to host the Indian version of Who Dares Win, titled Extreme Dhamaka, and ended up being spotted by the talent scouts at Yash Raj Films. She landed a small cameo in Bunty Aur Babli and then went on to play Warsi’s wife in Salaam Namaste.

She and Warsi shared screen space in yet another film, Mr Black Mr White, which was released this month after three years in the cans. Zaetta’s role in the film was touted as “one of Charlie’s Angels”, but in the final print it was considered hardly memorable.

“Tania came on board after she was recommended by Arshad Warsi. She did not have much to do in the film, since all we required was a foreigner,” says Deepak Shivdasani, director of Mr Black Mr White.

... contd.