MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Gauhar Khan was slapped by a member of the audience while she was shooting for a television show at FilmCity on Sunday night.

The accused, Mohammad Akil Malik, 24, was pinned down by security persons on the sets and handed over to the Aarey Colony police . Officials said Malik had objected to the actor’s dress sense and for dancing to racy numbers. He also tried to touch her. He is likely to be booked on charges of molestation and assault.

Khan has been hosting a music reality show for a TV channel. She was shooting for the grand finale of the show on Sunday at studio no. 9 in FilmCity. “Malik had been coming over to the show, as a member of the audience, for the past two to three days. He had been observing Khan. Around 8pm on Sunday, while the shoot was on, Malik suddenly got up and went on the stage. He tried to touch Khan who was taken aback and resisted. Malik then slapped her. He asked her how she could wear skimpy outfits and dance to cheap songs despite being a Muslim,” a police official said.

Contestants on the show and security persons rushed to Khan’s aid. They overpowered Malik before calling the cops. Sources said Malik was manhandled. “We have sent him for a medical examination to find out if he was drunk,” said zonal DCP Panjabrao Ugle.

At the time of going to the press, an FIR was yet to be registered. “We took Malik into custody immediately. Khan said she would come to the police station after wrapping up the shoot. Malik would be produced before a magistrate court on Monday,” an official added.

The police are inquiring about Malik’s background.