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Kathmandu – The upcoming Nepali film “Laalimaa” aims to bridge the gap between society’s perception of sex workers and their real-life struggles, the filmmakers said.
Speaking at a press meet in Hattisar, writer and director Roshan Miraj said the film was created after nearly two decades of working closely with sex workers.
According to Miraj, the team initially planned to make a documentary on the subject. However, many sex workers refused to appear on camera due to fears of identity exposure, prompting the team to tell the story through a feature film instead.
“We have been working with sex workers for the past 20 years,” Miraj said. “When we tried to make a documentary, many were unwilling to appear on screen because their identities might be revealed. But when we proposed making a film, they became willing to share their experiences, struggles and pain.”
Miraj added that “Laalimaa” seeks to highlight the gap between public perception of sex workers and the harsh realities they face.
Actor Usha Rajak said she agreed to join the project because of the production team’s long-standing engagement with sex workers.
“I believe not everyone has the right to turn someone’s pain into a film,” Rajak said. “But this team has worked with sex workers for 20 years and supported them through their struggles. With experience of working with around 3,000 sex workers, I felt they had the credibility to tell this story.”
Lead actor Roshni Karki said the film gave her a deeper understanding of how society often fails to recognize sex workers as equal human beings.
“Society rarely treats them with dignity,” Karki said. “The reasons that push them into this profession can be terrifying. I joined this film to help give them a voice.”
Produced under the banner Faith Aastha, the film stars Roshni Karki, Usha Rajak, Jeevan Bhattarai, Sushma Niraula, Ghanshyam Joshi, Sabin Kattel and Shishir Wangdel.
The film’s executive producer is Reena Lama, while National Cine Group Nepal will handle distribution. “Laalimaa” is scheduled for release on March 13 (Falgun 29).
