A seemingly perplexed Abhishek Bachchan has denied allegations that he smashed the camera of a Delhi press photographer in a rage, saying he was in no way involved in the brawl on the sets of his film Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai.

"I haven't raised my hand on anyone. I did not hit any press photographer and I never threw any press person's camera on the ground, as reported in some of today's (Monday's) newspapers," Bachchan said.

According to the reports, three Delhi-based photojournalists found themselves in the line of fire Sunday when they went to take pictures of Abhishek and his team shooting for debutant director Goldie Behl's Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai at Raisina Hill in Delhi, which has the imposing Rashtrapati Bhavan (presidential palace) serving as the majestic backdrop.

While Mustafa Quraishi of The Indian Express was allegedly punched, Laxmanan of The Hindu newspaper was thrown off the sets and freelance photographer Umesh Puri allegedly had his camera smashed by Abhishek himself. A police complaint was lodged by the journalists against four members of the film crew, including Abhishek.

Abhishek, who describes himself as a "pucca dilliwallah" (a typical Delhi resident), is somewhat puzzled by the turn of events. "It pains me to see such negative things happening on the sets of my film. If people from the press or the unit have been hurt in any way, then it's a very, very wrong thing. And I apologize on behalf of my entire unit. There's definitely a misunderstanding being created here, by whom and for what purpose, I don't know."

The unit of Behl's film had flown in to shoot for the climactic sequences of Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai in Delhi on April 14. On Sunday afternoon there was a huge crowd on location comprising unit members, press persons and spectators.

"The photographers were told they were welcome to take photographs of the leading man. But were pointedly asked not to take photographs of Abhishek in his bloodied makeup," said a member of the unit.

According to the unit, a press photographer not only insisted on taking photographs of the director's sister, Tania Behl, but also used abusive language when she resisted. An altercation with crewmembers ensued and cops had to intervene, he said.

"But Abhishek had nothing to do with any of the altercation with the press persons. When the chaos broke out he was facing the camera. He was nowhere near the scene of action. On the contrary Abhishek was subjected to abusive language like 'bloodied monster' and 'little coward' by certain press members," asserted a crewmember.

"The next thing we knew was a complaint was lodged against four members of our unit including Abhishek!" he said.

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