Tuesday, March 15 2005 15:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Actor Shakti Kapoor today (March 15, 2005) offered a public apology to those he had hurt 'unintentionally' by his purported remark that Bollywood personalities were indulging in "casting couch", and said he suspected a 'political conspiracy' behind the 'frame up'.

"I suspect I have been framed by a political party", he told sources in Mumbai today.

"I had supported the Congress and my Opposing rivals would have found this the right opportunity to settle their scores for having backed the party", he said.

"The said that the channel, which has pulled through this 'expose' is known to have the backing of the rival party, hence I strongly suspect the whole thing had been framed", he said.

"I have been framed so badly, that I could have suffered from a heart attack or they could have pushed me to the brink of committing suicide", an upset Kapoor said.

On the strong reactions from industry over the allegations, he said, "On that front, I have already tendered an apology to all those whom I have hurt. I have conveyed to them that my deepest apology through SMS messages".

"With folded hands I have apologised to the entire film industry, including Subhash Ghai, Preity Zinta, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee who are close to me", the actor said.

"I had no intentions to hurt them. The whole thing was doctored and tampered and in case they still feel hurt, I am ready to apologise again", he said.

Reacting to the ban suggested by Producer's Guild, Kapoor said he had already tendered an apology to the guild.

"Some producers have assured me that they would try and settle the matter soon, since I have apologised".

Kapoor had during a sting operation by a TV channel named Bollywood personalities including Subhash Ghai and the late Yash Johar as indulging in the casting-couch.