EXCLUSIVE: 'He's a great man': Home and Away actress Ayesha Khan, 30, seen kissing disgraced businessman Rodney Adler, 59, insists the two 'are just good friends'

  • Disgraced businessman Rodney Adler was pictured kissing Underbelly actress 
  • Adler, 59, enjoyed a boozy long lunch with Aysha Khan, 30, in Sydney
  • Ms Khan said Adler was 'a great man' who has had a 'great affect' on her career
  • The former HIH director has four children with his long-term wife Lyndi Adler
  • In 2005 Adler was jailed for two years for his role in $5.3 billion collapse of HIH

By Josh Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 16:47 EST, 10 November 2018 | Updated: 17:17 EST, 10 November 2018

A model and actress who starred in Underbelly is the woman seen publicly kissing notorious Sydney businessman Rodney Adler after a long lunch together.

Ayesha Khan, 30, has had a small role in Home and Away and played a crime figure's girlfriend in 'The Golden Mile', the 2010 series of the hit TV show.

Ms Khan and Adler, 59, were spotted enjoying a meal and drinks at Alfredo's bar, in Sydney, last Thursday. 

Adler then escorted the glamorous brunette to a taxi and kissed her goodbye.

Ms Khan told Daily Mail Australia the man she calls 'Rod' has had a profound impact on her acting career.

'Rod is a great man, he's had a great affect on me,' Ms Khan said. 

Underbelly actress Ayesha Khan (left) was last week pictured kissing disgraced businessman Rodney Adler (right) during a boozy mid-week lunch

Underbelly actress Ayesha Khan (left) was last week pictured kissing disgraced businessman Rodney Adler (right) during a boozy mid-week lunch

Ms Khan (pictured) defended the married businessman to Daily Mail Australia as a 'great man'

Ms Khan (pictured) defended the married businessman to Daily Mail Australia as a 'great man'

'I met him professionally,' she added. 

'We're just friends and I can't talk about this or go into it anymore... it's just not right given his circumstances.'

Daily Mail Australia has been told Adler is still in a relationship with wife Lyndi. They have four children together.

The couple stayed strong through the two-and-half-year jail sentence Adler received in 2005 for his role in the $5.3 billion dollar collapse of HIH Insurance.

Fellow directors Ray Williams and Brad Cooper were also jailed after the company's collapse.

But Ms Khan defended the disgraced businessman, saying: 'It's a shame people can't get over what happened a long time ago.'

Adler's friendship with the model comes amid rumours he and his wife are preparing to sell their sprawling mansion in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Vaucluse. 

In addition to her acting work, Ms Khan also regularly models for fashion and underwear labels

In addition to her acting work, Ms Khan also regularly models for fashion and underwear labels

Ms Khan (right) played the role of Natalie, the girlfriend of former Sydney crime figure George Freeman (left, played by Australian actor Peter O'Brien) in Underbelly: The Golden Mile in 2010

Ms Khan (right) played the role of Natalie, the girlfriend of former Sydney crime figure George Freeman (left, played by Australian actor Peter O'Brien) in Underbelly: The Golden Mile in 2010

Ms Khan and Adler spent several hours drinking and canoodling with Adler at Alfredo's bar in Sydney's CBD

Ms Khan and Adler spent several hours drinking and canoodling with Adler at Alfredo's bar in Sydney's CBD

After enjoying a meal and numerous drinks the pair left hand-in-hand and with a skip in their step 

After enjoying a meal and numerous drinks the pair left hand-in-hand and with a skip in their step 

According to the Wentworth Courier the Adler's have abandoned plans for a revamp of their tennis court, a project that would have cost them an estiamted $5.2 million.

Instead they are reportedly considering offers for the lavish mansion, believed to be worth somewhere in the region of $16 million.

Adler took over the role as CEO of FAI from his father Larry in 1988, at just 29. 

The group was founded by his father Larry Adler, who went on to became one of the nation's top businessman despite arriving off a boat from Hungary in 1950 without a dollar to his name.

He was educated at Sydney's prestigious Cranbrook school where he counted James Packer and Jodee Rich among his classmates.

Packer and Rich would go on to be involved in the creation of communications firm One.Tel, a company of which Adler later became a director.

Adler walked Ms Khan to a nearby taxi rank where he farewelled her with a kiss and a hug

Adler walked Ms Khan to a nearby taxi rank where he farewelled her with a kiss and a hug

'Rod is a great man, he's had a great affect on me,' the glamorous brunette actress said of Adler

'Rod is a great man, he's had a great affect on me,' the glamorous brunette actress said of Adler

After bidding Ms Khan goodbye the once respected businessman then chased the taxi up Pitt Street until he caught it at a red light, before waving farewell through the window once more

After bidding Ms Khan goodbye the once respected businessman then chased the taxi up Pitt Street until he caught it at a red light, before waving farewell through the window once more

In 2001 One.Tel was placed into administration. 

Three years earlier in 1998 Adler oversaw the takeover of FAI by HIH, before going on to take up the role as director of HIH just months later.

RODNEY ADLER AND THE HIH COLLAPSE: 

- Adler took over the role as CEO of FAI from his father Larry in 1988, at just 29

- In 1998, Insurance giant HIH made a takeover bid for FAI

- Adler became director of HIH after the takeover officially went through

- At its peak HIH had $8billion in assets, but when Adler took over the helm HIH was in a poor financial state

- The company collapsed in 2001 and it was later revealed Adler had pocketed up to $2 million for himself

- In 2005 he and other directors were jailed

- The total collapse of HIH is estimated to have cost $5.3 billion 

But his world came tumbling down in the early 2000s when HIH collapsed, losing up to $5.3 billion for investors while pocketing $2 million for himself.

In 2005 Adler pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the company's collapse and despite facing up to 20 years in jail, spent the minimum two-and-a-half behind bars.

He also paid a total of $8.9 million in fines for himself and Ray Williams.

Adler and wife Lyndi were regulars on Sydney's social scene, often making large philanthropic donations - particularly within the Jewish community.

Mrs Adler and the couple's four children stuck by the disgraced businessman throughout his time in prison.

Earlier this year it was revealed the couple was renovating their multi-million dollar mansion in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Vaucluse. 

In a rare interview in 2015, Adler spoke of his time behind bars and complained he was still being punished for his crime.

Mr and Mrs Adler walk out of the NSW Supreme Court during his sentencing hearing in 2005

Mr and Mrs Adler walk out of the NSW Supreme Court during his sentencing hearing in 2005

Adler (pictured after being sent to jail in 2005) declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia

Adler (pictured after being sent to jail in 2005) declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia

'Punishment for white-collar crime is the punishment that keeps giving and giving... if I were a blue-collar criminal I'd go home and people would forget,' he told The Australian. 

'No one remembers me for the good things I did and still do. Philanthropy is a big part of Lyndi's and my life.'

The businessman now operates a money-lending business out of an office in Sydney's CBD.

He was banned from sitting on the board of any companies until 2021 as part of his 2005 punishment.

Mr Adler declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.

The then 48-year-old leaves the minimum security St Heliers Correctional Centre in October 2007 after serving a two-and-a-half year prison sentence

The then 48-year-old leaves the minimum security St Heliers Correctional Centre in October 2007 after serving a two-and-a-half year prison sentence

 

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