Anara Gupta's movie screening halted in Jammu

Former Miss Jammu Anara Gupta's debut film "Miss Anara", based on her life story of her arrest on charges of acting in a blue film and acquittal by a court, could not be screened in her own native land following angry protests by Shiv Sena activists.

The film starring Anara in the lead role was screened in 200 cinema theatres across country.

On Friday, when the film was to be released, Shiv Sainiks staged protest demonstrations here and marched in a procession to her house in the town, saying the film would "have an adverse impact on society". They threatened to storm theatres screening the film.

Anara had won the Miss Jammu title in 2001 when she was in her teens. In October 2004, she was arrested on charges of acting in a blue film. She was kept in custody by police and made to confess before the media about her acting in the blue film and under what circumstances she had done so.

The former Miss Jammu, however, retracted her statement in the court and charged the police with framing her. Her case attracted wide media attention. A court acquitted her after a forensic laboratory in Hyderabad declared that the girl in the blue film was not Anara Gupta.

More than half a dozen officers were placed under suspension for her harassment and torture.

However, the Shiv Sena has challenged the court ruling and has asked for a re-investigation.

The film has been produced by K.K. Yadav Productions.

Indo-Asian News Service