Mumbai: Fishermen’s associations across the state on Tuesday objected to a video released by a company that sells fish via an online app. The clip features actress Varsha Usgaonkar saying she has “often been cheated by Koli fisherwomen who sold her stale and smelly pomfret”. She then urges people to buy fresh fish via this app instead.

As the controversy snowballed, Usgaonkar issued another video, this time in apology. “I apologize if I have inadvertently hurt the sentiments of the Koli community. I hold them in deep respect,” she said through a gritted smile.

Devendra Tandel, president of the Akhil Maharashtra Macchimar Kruti Samiti, and Vijay Worlikar of the Worli fishermen’s association had protested. Tandel said, “Since they have tendered their apology we are not going ahead with a legal notice as planned. However we are filing an official police complaint against Usgaonkar for hurting the sentiments of the Kolis.”

The company CEO, Makarand Bandekar, said, “The video was just feedback received from Usgaonkar who is our client. We have already deleted the video.”