Actress Gautami has categorically denied having any connection with actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan after the two parted ways in October 2016.
The actress, who published a blog post titled 'Past is past – And there are reasons for it' on Saturday night, opened up on a number of issues, including not being paid for her work as costume designer on films produced by Kamal Haasan's banner Raaj Kamal Films International.
Taking exception to news reports that seemed to imply she was still associated with Kamal Haasan, Gautami said, "I am deeply distressed by recent news items that seem to imply that I continue to be associated with Mr Kamal Haasan in either a personal or professional connection. I categorically state that this is completely false and I have had no contact with Mr Haasan since we formally parted ways in October of 2016. The period since my walking out has been consumed by my efforts to rebuild a stable and secure environment for my daughter and myself. An environment where we could breathe free of the stress and tension of a greatly traumatic situation."
Gautami also disclosed that during their 13 years together, the only films she worked on were those produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and the films Kamal Haasan made for other producers.
She said she was actively discouraged from working on other projects and that she is yet to receive a significant amount of the payment due to her.
"During the nearly thirteen years of our life together, the work that I did as Costume Designer was only for films produced by Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI), and for films that Mr Haasan made for other producers. And this was my primary source of income as my working both in front of and behind the camera in others' projects was actively discouraged.
"In addition to this, it grieves me greatly to have to say that as of October 2016, I had salary dues pending right from earlier films like Dasavatharam (2008), Vishwaroopam (2013), etc. As these pending salary dues were the only financial resource at the time for rebuilding my life, I had made repeated efforts to recover the payments from Mr Haasan and RKFI. I am deeply anguished to say that in spite of repeated entreaties and requests, there is still a significant amount from my due salary pending payment."
The actress also trashed rumours that have been doing the rounds that she had broken up with Kamal Haasan because of his elder daughter Shruti Haasan.
Gautami said, "I had taken the decision to walk out and make my own life because it had become painfully clear to me over a time period even prior to October 2016 that our personal code of conduct and commitment had become completely divergent.
"In my commitment to our relationship, I had believed that we shared the values and ideals that I have held dear all my life. Mutual respect, love, commitment and honesty are indispensable in any relationship and especially in sharing a life. And when these are absent, everyday life becomes an unrelenting torment with shattered self-respect.
"The reason for the failure of this relationship does not lie with anybody else, especially with Shruti. So much has been said about her supposed differences with me that led to this breakup, but that is not true. No third person, especially children, can ever be responsible for the state of a personal relationship between adults.
"Both Shruti and Akshara are wonderful young ladies whom I knew as children and I continue to look upon them as such till today. Neither of them have any responsibility for the breakdown of the relationship. That rests entirely on Mr Haasan’s change in commitment and my inability to accept that compromise and destroy my self-respect.
"I had committed to the relationship and stood by that commitment through thick and thin. Mr Haasan’s leg breaking in such a horrible incident was among the most traumatizing experiences of my life. It was a needless and senseless accident that took years off my life to witness.
"I had stood by him through the whole terrible period till he was well and completely back on his feet as it did not occur to me to do otherwise. I have stood silently behind him through all of his difficult times through the years without once claiming so in private or public."
Gautami, who had maintained a "dignified silence" all these months, said she was speaking out now because speculation about her association with Kamal Haasan continues unabated.
"In spite of facing significant challenges, I have never been deterred from my decision to make my life alone," she wrote. "I would rather fight an honorable battle for survival alone than continue to exist with the heartache of compromising my self-respect in a relationship where my love and commitment are not respected and reciprocated.
"I have maintained a dignified silence through the past seventeen months on these matters and more, as I have always tried to look ahead with a positive and progressive attitude though this has been extremely difficult during some periods that I have had to face.
"I have chosen to speak out now because the speculation concerning my association with Mr Kamal Haasan continues unabated and many people continue to labour under the wrong belief that I support and/or subscribe to his words, actions and decisions. Indeed, a wrong belief that I am a part of Mr Haasan’s life in any way. I have absolutely nothing to do with him or his actions in any way – professionally, personally, politically or otherwise."