Burqa Shocker: Ishika Borah claims she was offered Rs 50 lakh for the film “Sex Inside A Burkha”

KABUL: Even while Iranian director Ali Zafar Abbasi’s controversial silent film “Sex Inside A Burkha” based on true incidents of prostitution among married Muslim women in certain Muslim societies across the world has stirred protests, Indian soft-porn star Ishika Borah today claimed that she was offered Rs 50 lakh to play the main lead role in the film.

Ishika said she refused to do the film as it was “too controversial and blasphemous to some extent” and she wanted to avoid religious controversy. The short film of 45 minutes duration was partly short in Rajasthan and Old Delhi and features two Indian actors. The rest of the film’s cast includes actors of different nationalities including Iranian and Pakistani actors. However, Abbasi said he plans to re-shoot some portions of the film as he was not happy with the final outcome.

“The film is based on true incidents wherein young and good-looking married women from poor families are “hired” out by their husbands to satisfy the carnal needs of rich men from the Gulf countries for varying periods of time ranging from three to 24 months. The women are paid decent sums of money, but sometimes are physically or brutally abused by the men hiring them who want to get their money’s worth. This illegal practice is prevalent in several Muslim nations in very poor communities and is spoken of in hushed tones, although the entire family knows what is actually happening. It’s considered a ‘job’ or ‘service’ rendered by the woman to take care of the financial needs of her family and in some cultures is sort of revered,” explained Abbasi. He added that the film is not judgemental in anyway but only portrays existing customs in some sections of the community.

The practice has no legitimacy in Islam and yet is defended by some Conservative religious leaders in some places as a “noble service”. Abbasi says he wants to expose this practice through his short silent film and give it international coverage. Ishika Borah was chosen for the project for her bold image and attitude, which has won her the title of an Indian soft-porn star.