Vidya Balan: 'I paid a bribe'

Vidya Balan has admitted paying a bribe for her new house.

Speaking at the CNN-IBN Citizen Journalist Awards, the actress took a pledge of 'bribe bandh' ('stop bribes') on stage, assuring the audience that she would never take a bribe again, the Hindustan Times reports.

"While getting my new house in Khar registered in Mumbai, I paid a bribe, something I have done all my life," Balan said.

"When you break a traffic signal, even though you don't necessarily want to, sometimes you are in a hurry to get to some place and end up paying the cops to let you pass.

"Though I must say I've never flouted traffic rules intentionally. Then, about two years ago, I changed my stance and decided I would rather pay the fine."

The Dirty Picture star told the audience she was inspired to take the anti-bribery pledge by those who were being congratulated for their fight against corruption at the awards ceremony.

"We are the system. So if we want a change, then we have to take the first step and only then expect to see it in the society. If all of us pledge not to give bribes, it will help us eventually," she said.

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