Dhoni is still with us: Mindscapes

Kolkata:

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's celebrity management firm on Tuesday claimed that he has not parted ways with them although their associate and the wicketkeeper batsman's spokesman Yudhajit Dutta was on the verge of leaving the company.

"Our contract with Dhoni is not over although Dutta wanted to move out to start his own company," Prateek Sen, joint promoter of the city-based Mindscapes Maestros, said.

It was earlier reported that Dhoni, also an adviser to the company, might start a new celebrity management firm with Dutta, a long-time friend.

"Mindscapes will continue to manage all his business affairs as usual and I will handle his account personally on the company's behalf," Sen said.

An official announcement would be made soon and a public notice would also be issued in this regard, he said. When contacted, Dutta insisted that he had not left the company.

"As of now, I am still with them," he said refusing to comment any further.

After Dutta's exit, the company will be left with two partners Prateek Sen and Ranadeb Paul.

Incidentally, differences between the three promoters had led to the last minute pullout of FMCG major Emami from sponsoring the Kolkata Fashion Week (KFW) this September.

"It all started during the KFW when we came across reports that Dutta wanted to start a separate company on his own," Sen said.

Asked whether Dutta's walkout would affect the company's business, he replied in the negative and said, "although he was the face of the company, we were in loop of whatever he was doing and so we will manage. Even Dhoni himself has spoken personally to our clients."

Mindscapes also manages the endorsements of actor John Abraham and cricketer Gautam Gambhir among others.