Yeepa: Outrage as Popular Actress plays major role in masturbation scene of newly released Bollywood movie

Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker has hit back at a torrent of online abuse over a masturbation scene in a film dubbed India’ s answer to “ Sex and the City ” that is proving a hit worldwide.

“ Veere Di Wedding”, meaning “ Friend ’s Wedding” in English, has caused a stir on social media for its portrayal of female sexuality — a taboo subject in patriarchal , socially conservative India.

The Hindi-language movie has raked in $7 .8 million in India since its June 1 release, according to Box Office India , and is in the top 10 in Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

The film, also starring Kareena Kapoor , Sonam Kapoor and Shikha Talsania and which was produced by a woman , centres on four female friends and their attitudes towards sex , love and marriage.

Many critics have praised the film as a powerful statement about female empowerment but others have accused it of having a shallow plotline .

In one scene the husband of the character played by Bhasker walks in on his wife masturbating with a vibrator .

Bhasker has received a flood of negative comments online — including vicious personal attacks — but has defended the film and her role in it .

“ In a culture that largely silences or ignores or shames female sexuality showing a girl gratifying herself in a film in a non -judgemental way is empowering, ” Bhasker wrote in one tweet .

In another response she wrote: “ It ’s okay to do something privately and not tell your parents about it. It ’ s called discretion .

“ Do u describe your morning shit to your parents when they ask you what u did when you woke up ? # logic.”

Bhasker has also received an outpouring of support from fans.
“ I sometimes feel like giving @ ReallySwara a hug and a truck full of chocolate .

“ She deserves to get a day off from uninformed people trying to pull her down for every word she says and every role she plays , ” wrote Twitter user Hannah Pillai.

Critics have likened the film to an Indian version of “ Sex and the City” , the hit US television series that also portrays four friends as they navigate love and sex in New York.

AFP.