You might remember Shweta Basu Prasad as the cute and bubbly girl from the 2002 film 'Makdee'. Shweta won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist, for the film during the time. Later on, she featured in some TV soaps such as 'Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki' and 'Karishma Kaa Karishma'. Shweta also worked in Bollywood movies Iqbal and Darna Zaroori Hai. Shweta then tried her luck in the South, where she became fairly successful.
However, things apparently took a bad turn for Shweta as she was recently arrested for engaging in a prostitution racket. On Sunday, the police raided a reputed hotel at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad where the actress was caught red handed.
Apparently, somebody tipped off the police about this racket and the cops thus ended up raiding the hotel. Shweta was there with many 'businessmen', who are also taken into custody. More details on this will probably emerge after police questionings and interrogations.
However, this is not the first time Shweta's name has cropped up in this regard. Earlier, the actress was said to be caught in a compromising position during a sting operation by a Telugu channel.
However, the question is, do you think actresses with a feeble acting career get caught in such money making avenues? Thoughts?
Here is Shweta's statement: "I have made wrong choices in my career and i was out of money. I had to support my family and some other good causes. All the doors were closed and some people encouraged me to get into prostitution to earn money. I was helpless and with no option left to choose, i got involved in this act. I'm not the only one who faced this problem and there are several other heroines who have gone through this phase."
Sad thing she had to resort to this to survive! Sounds like some pimp wanted his cut, didn't get it & snitched on her.
ReplyDeleteIf somebody wants to sell sex that means there is someone always to buy it. so why is it become a trouble of somebody else? If it is really bad, the law should be equal to every man and woman. Did the man who was with her get arrested too? was his name published? No! Also, I think sex workers are much more dignified since they are direct about what they do. But there are so many women in the world who does it indirectly for money. Also there are many high class escorts who never get any trouble from police. why this double standards. so many women get abused and mistreated because of the way law has been created? since they can't come up and speak what happens to them. I hope Rani does a sequel to Mardaani about these poor women!
ReplyDeleteWhy just feeble actresses? Most actresses and actors alike in this profession and involved in some or other kind of activities only star kids are spared from the horror. All others either out of need or choice go through these situations.
ReplyDeleteOh Shweta sweetheart I am so sorry. Hugs for you. It's wrong that the media spares the name of these businessmen and flashes this poor girls name everywhere. I hope everything becomes alright for you and that you find a stable safe and happy life Shweta
ReplyDeleteSpot on. These are my exact thoughts. She wasn't forced into prostitution. I have sympathy towards women who are brought into this profession by force. But this girl clearly did all this for a luxurious lifestyle. You are right she could scrub toilet in McDonalds than sell her body. It's so easy to say "I was poor I didn't have money so I resorted to prostitution." It's harder to tell yourself whatever job you do will be with dignity and there is so much more dignity in scrubbing toilets. Gosh how can she sleep at night knowing how she has let men use her for money!
ReplyDeletethats so sad! im cant judge sitting here while i am an outsider. Clearly its morally objectionable. BUT ,so is this case for the men involved. they are clearly not being exposed . why only for the woman? just because she is famous isnt really the only reason. We tend to judge the woman harshly..whereas both the sides are equally in the wrong.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much difference in a women selling her body. Poor, labour sell for lively hood and this kind of girls sell for luxury life.
ReplyDeleteMore than disgusting, its upsetting. As a woman myself I dislike it when women are treated as sexual objects and hate it even more when such businessmen are not arrested. Don't these businessmen have wives? How unfortunate this is to know that people do such gross acts to satisfy their sexual needs or greed. Anyways, its sad that only she is the one suffering this because as far as I am concerned many actresses went through the same thing and who can forget casting couch?
ReplyDeleteA damn shame her name is dragged and the business men remain anonymous. It should be the other way around.
ReplyDeleteShe was a child actress and maybe her education faltered because of that. Parents think an early start in the business means their child will forever remain their cash cow. A child should not have to earn for their parents. It's too much pressure and when they start failing they have to resort to this kind of stuff to make the same amount of money.
Yesterday Blind Item in Mid-day
ReplyDeleteThis small screen actor, who plays the lead in a woman-centric show, keeps clicking photographs of his co-actors and anything that amuses him on the sets. He claims that photography is his hobby and tells everyone that he shoots for catalogues by night, but in reality this so-called business is that of being a gigolo.
Shot in the dark Shot in the dark
He has an agent, too, and his rate card is now being discussed openly on the sets of this daily show. On his list are corporate as well as film folks’ wives. Some time ago, he did a cameo in a leading actress’s film with an award-winning director.
His parents are apparently hell-bent on getting him married. Two years back, his match was fixed with an actor’s sister, but when the truth about his reputation was out, the marriage was called off. He was then seeing a filmmaker’s niece, also a TV actress, for a year.
She too broke it off with him, when she got to know about his other profession. He is said to be a polished guy and a charmer at that, but the television fraternity is now openly talking about his double life.
Now - Whats his excuse ???
Well I commend her for being honest & she is right. There is a LONG list of Bollywood actresses who moonlight as escorts. Most of you guys probably wouldn't believe some of the names & it is pointless to write it since u guys would insult me & PV may not post. This profession & escorting is vry closely tied.
ReplyDeleteThere can b no justification for being caught in prostitution. Am sure she had a roof top on her head, 2 time meal, loving supportive family, few friends. That's enough to survive and be grateful to god. Many dont even get that. What is she talking about. It's more to do with wanting a richer lifestyle and nothing else.But having said that it's true many top actresses have done this behind closed doors and things have been hushed up due to powerful bfs or contacts. In the film industry it's a very transparent give n take.Many producers n directors openly tell their heroines that they will have to compromise but its purely their wish. I dont think anyone forces it on them. So the abla naari story is BS. If you have a family to cater to dont choose acting profession. Go do a 9 to 5 job. Bollywood Industry comes with a sleaze tag to it except when you have a strong powerful family to protect n back you. Sad state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw Iqbal, I had tears in my eyes. She was brilliant, and to resort to this is unthinkable. I wish there is someone to help her. She is too young. What were her parents doing all this while.
ReplyDeletewhats the big deal?? It was her choice, her life, her consent and now she is facing its repercussions. Who is anyone to sit in judgement of why and how and what for?? The saddest part is that the businessman got away without his name being revealed! Its for this reason, I agree, prostitution should be legalized. It is a business like any other and involves a clear consent by both parties knowing very well what the health risks and other moral/social consequences are. At least the rights of both parties will be protected and a lot of middlemen, pimps, ministers, industralists etc. will be eliminated.
ReplyDeleteTruly sad . I remember her as the little girl who used to come in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki . It's difficult achieving fame as a child star & then nobody finds you cute any more as an adult. The children get used to all the adulation & money & they are simply unable to get a regular job . And a lot of girls are forced into the flesh trade because of parents who are content to live off their daughters.
ReplyDeleteAs a guy, I actually support Shweta in this way of lifestyle. First off, it's her life, her decisions, her body. If she wanted to get into prostitution, she has every right to do so. But having said that, I, by no means, would WANT any woman in the prostitution. Rather, many women go into prostitution because they have no other way to make a living or earn money. The whole problem lies at the root of society; 1) there should be more and more jobs available to women where they could make their own decisions and feel comfortable to work in a positive environment, 2) men are the ones to be blamed for women in prostitution because it's their demands that drive certain people to push women into prostitution, 3) prostitution in and itself is not bad but how your clients treat you, that makes it worse. Women in prostitution are way more vulnerable and exposed to abuses and physical crimes. So if this abuse is eliminated and women are provided with better jobs, and yet they are still willing to get into prostitution, they have full right to it. Just my opinion.
ReplyDelete