The classic actress Manisha Koirala, who became unpopular in her own country Nepal five years ago by supporting the army-backed coup of King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, is set to lend a helping hand to another member of the former royal family. Next month, Manisha, who now also has a foot in the Nepali film industry, will launch in New Delhi’s Oberoi hotel a third novel penned by Sheeba Shivangini Shah, who is married to the nephew of the deposed king, Lt Col Bikash Bikram Shah.“Facing my Phantoms”, published by Rupa, is a semi-autobiographical novel, tracing the migration of Sheeba’s family, the turmoil in Nepal, the reign of four different kings and the 10-year Maoist insurgency. The book launch is being handled by an event management company. The list of invitees includes the media, socialites and a virtual Who’s Who of India and Nepal.A special list will be drawn up by Devyani Singh nee Rana, whom Nepal’s crown prince Dipendra wanted to marry before he died in a carnage in the palace in which the then king and queen also perished. The April 24 launch will be followed by a second one in Kathmandu at the Hotel de l’Annapurna where the former royal family still holds stakes. The 34-year-old former princess debuted as an author in 2003 with “Loyals of the crown”, a mammoth tale of the court intrigue and bloodbath in 1846 when a junior queen of the Shah dynasty ordered a mass killing of noblemen in revenge after her lover was murdered. Now established as a serious writer with three novels, Sheeba’s next venture will be a coffee table book.Sheeba herself is also eyeing Bollywood.
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