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Manisha plays saviour in Hrithik affair

Manisha Koirala played a key role in getting actor Hrithik Roshan's version published in the Nepali media.

The fading Bollywood actress, a member of the powerful Koirala family of Nepal, personally tracked Hrithik in Australia, got him to issue a rejoinder and ensured in was published in most Nepali newspapers.

Hrithik is presently in Australia-New Zealand with his wife Suzanne Khan on a honeymoon.

Officials in Kathmandu admit that if it was not for Manisha, Hrithik rejoinder may not have reached Nepal newspapers even on December 27 evening.

Manisha, who happened to be in Kathmandu, tracked down Hrithik and briefed him about the violence in Nepal. She briefed the Bollywood heart-throb about the implications of the protests.

Manisha, officials point out, convinced Hrithik about the need to issue a personal clarification to newspapers in Nepal, more than denying the remarks over Indian channels and newspapers. The Indian media, Manisha pointed out, is not trusted among Nepalis, especially after last year's IC-814 hijack.

Hrithik wrote a two-page rejoinder, explaining that he had never made an anti-Nepal remark, and faxed it to Manisha. It was she who then distributed it to the newspaper offices and local Nepali television channels.

"She played a very crucial role in helping us out," says a senior Indian diplomat in Kathmandu.

Manisha also got Hrithik to give a voice over interview through telephone to Nepali TV, denying the remarks. She also ensured that the interview was prominently played up in the channel's news.

"The denial has had a very positive impact. The violence has stopped for now," the official said.

What had been worrying the officials is the anti-India tone of the protests. "But with most Nepali newspapers and channel playing up Hrithik's denial prominently on December 28, there seems to have been some reduction in violence," an official said.

On Thursday there was no major incident despite a call for a nation-wide bandh by left wing student groups.

Indians and Nepalis of Indian origin, especially the rich and powerful Marwari community, were the main targets of the protestors.

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