However, the nude photograph of Shrisha, published by the Jana Aastha weekly with its report on enforced prostitution in the Nepali film industry caused the young actress to commit suicide, triggering a backlash against the weekly.
“I had to remain underground for one and a half years,” says Kishor Shrestha, the 39-year-old editor of the weekly, who in 2002 faced a warrant for his arrest due to growing social outcry.
“But now, in the new permissive society, things are regarded differently.”
Shrestha says the sex video reinforces the absence of ethics in Nepal’s film industry as well as growing promiscuity.
“While Shrisha was forced into prostitution, in Namrata’s case, the situation is different,” he says. “She is well educated and her career had taken off. She admitted that she herself had got the video made.”
Seven years ago, the public outrage was triggered because the actress committed suicide, he says.
“When people die, our society treats them as saints,” he says. “But Namrata has not committed suicide, showing she is made of sterner stuff.”
But though society has become permissive, Shrestha says the Namrata incident still goes against traditional society values.
“It’s a betrayal,” he says. “Namrata has her own boyfriend while the DJ is a married man with kids. The incident has dealt a blow to his marriage.”
He also predicts that though she can brazen it out, it is going to affect Namrata’s career.
“Her fans have already started making adverse comments on the Net after the incident,” he says. “It has tarnished her image and her credibility.” Go to Home Page
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