Airline employee accuses Bollywood star of abuse

Amisha Patel

Amisha Patel, who starred in one of Bollywood's biggest box office hits, "Gadar" (Mutiny) in 2001, was upset after the airline employee refused to upgrade her friend to first class on a flight to the United States on Friday, they said.

Patel, known for playing the mushy girlfriend in romantic potboilers, allegedly used foul language and threatened to have the employee sacked, they said.

"We have ordered an internal inquiry to find out what happened. But what appears now is that the passenger was at fault," said Air-India spokesman S. Venkat.

"A police complaint has been lodged by the employee."

Patel's friend was later upgraded to first class even though she was not entitled to it and the two boarded the flight, the Times of India daily said.