NCB SUMMONS: "I AM SHOCKED AND SURPRISED," SAYS DIRECTOR WHO INTRODUCED DEEPIKA PADUKONE TO FILMS

Deepika's manager Karishma Prakash has also received a summons to appear before the agency; however, she has sought an exemption, citing ill-health. “She has been exempted from appearance before the central agency till Friday,” an NCB source told PTI.

Now, director Indrajit Lankesh who introduced Deepika to films by way of the Kannada starrer Aishwarya in 2006 has spoken about the matter in an interview to TOI.

"I am shocked and surprised that Deepika's name has cropped up in the investigation, especially after knowing her so closely and being the director of her first film," said Indrajit.

"I used to follow Prakash's career keenly. He was known for his discipline. He hails from a traditional and conservative background from a small village called Padukone. So, it is difficult to digest the news about Deepika. She was very focused, determined and wanted to achieve something in life. She wanted to have success as she swam against the tide. Her father, a disciplinarian, wanted her to play badminton, but she had her eyes set on cinema, which he didn't approve of. She had that extra focus. I don't know what happened," Indrajit said.

“This is the right time to talk about this, because if one knows his or her roots and understands the difficulties one's parents have been through, it will save you and make you grow. It is not the friends, or the peer pressure or the drugs that will stand you in good stead," he further said.