Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; July 17, 2014)

Esha Gupta apparently refused to walk the ramp for Shobha Shringar’s show at the on-going India International Jewellery Week in the city.

Sources state that she demanded a huge appearance fee. The actress backed out at the last-minute forcing the organisers to look for a replacement. Dia Mirza was eventually roped in. The show was at 6 pm and Esha informed the organisers about her no show just hours before.

According to a source close to designer Shobha Shringar, Esha didn’t walk the ramp because there were some issues between them. But a source from the industry reveals, "Esha wanted her remuneration on par with other actresses like Chitrangda Singh, Kalki Koechlin, Neha Dhupia and Ameesha Patel. She threw a fit and refused to be the show stopper.”

Esha however maintains, “The organisers replaced me without even informing me. I had an issue with the outfit. I had asked them to change it, but they refused. I am glad Dia Mirza did the show because they gave her a different dress to wear and she looked very pretty.” When asked about the fee issue, she says, “That was not the problem. I have even refunded the amount. I only had issues with my outfit.”