Kathmandu : From today, Hindi cinema screenings have been banned in Kathmandu. Following objections to the inclusion of an Indian actress in the Bollywood movie “Adipurush,” Mayor Balendra Sah of Kathmandu Metropolitan City imposed the ban on Hindi cinema screenings. The objectionable message conveyed by the presence of an Indian actress in the film was requested to be removed from the original footage by the municipality. After the municipality disregarded the plea, a ban on screening the movie within the metropolitan area of Kathmandu was enforced. The Mayor mentioned that if the film is allowed to be screened in other parts of Nepal or abroad, it would establish misleading facts, therefore stating that the ban on screening the film is in place until any objectionable elements are removed. According to him, safeguarding the freedom, independence, and pride of Nepal, as well as protecting national interests, is the primary responsibility of every government, government agency, non-governmental sector, and Nepali citizen, leaving no room for doubt.
He stated, “If the movie is shown as it is, it would inflict irreparable damage to Nepal’s nationality, cultural unity, and national identity.”