Bollywood singer Shibani Kashyap has broken her silence over the visa controversy surrounding a group of performers who travelled with her to New Zealand for a Holi event, saying she had "absolutely no knowledge" that others were applying to enter the country alongside her.

Speaking to Awaaz today morning from India, Kashyap said she was "extremely disappointed" that her name and image had been linked to the episode without anyone seeking clarification from her first.

"I am extremely disappointed that without clarifying with me, my face and my name have been dragged into something which I am not connected with at all," she said. "It’s just very unfair."

The singer travelled to Auckland in February to perform at a Holi celebration in Pukekohe, an event that had drawn attention from immigration authorities after at least 11 people from the traveling group are suspected to have overstayed their visa.

Immigration officials have said that 27 people initially applied for visas linked to the event, though not all were approved.

Kashyap insists she travelled alone. "Last time when I came to New Zealand [last year] I came alone, and this time also I came alone," she said.

"Anybody would understand that carrying a whole team abroad is not easy. The organisers usually arrange local performers."

According to Kashyap, she landed in Auckland on February 19 and left New Zealand on February 23, staying during her visit at India House, the official residence of the Indian Consul General.

Immigration call before travel

Kashyap said officials from Immigration New Zealand made a phone call to her shortly before her trip. "Two or three days before my travel I got a call from immigration asking, 'Are you travelling alone'?" she said.

"I said yes, absolutely. They asked if I knew that other people were travelling. I said I was not aware."

She said she directed immigration officials to contact the organisers instead. "I told them to call the organisers from the CD Foundation because that is their responsibility. I am only coming there to perform."

The CD Foundation, which organised the event, has since provided her with a letter stating she had no involvement with the group whose visas are now under scrutiny, Kashyap said.

"My reputation has been tarnished"

The singer said she only became aware of the controversy when a friend in Australia sent her screenshots of media coverage. "I had no clue about this news until yesterday,"” she said.

"I was shocked. I thought somebody was playing a prank on me. Why would anyone drag my name into this?"

She described the Holi show in Pukekohe on February 21 as "more of a community event". "There were local kids, local performers, and I invited them on stage. It was a community celebration."

A visit meant to celebrate India-NZ ties

Kashyap said the trip was intended to celebrate cultural ties between India and New Zealand and to launch a documentary project involving filmmaker Shaji Matthews.

Her first visit to New Zealand last year had drawn wide attention after prime minister Christopher Luxon briefly joined her on stage during an event.

"That was a magical moment," she said. "The prime minister came on stage and it was such a lovely symbol of friendship between the two countries."

She said the positive experience made the latest controversy particularly upsetting. "After such a lovely memory with New Zealand, to see my reputation being tarnished like this is very painful."

Call for immigration action

Kashyap said she supported efforts by immigration authorities to investigate what happened. "I completely support Immigration New Zealand to find these people and take action," she said.

"If someone has used my name to do something illegal, that is completely wrong."

She said her only request was that the public and media recognise that she had no involvement in any visa irregularities.

"We Indians should stand by a reputed artist who has worked hard to build her name," she said.

“It is not fair to defame someone without proof.”