(Image Source: FHM India)

BY LAUREN ZIMA
 

ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS

A Pakistani actress is suing FHM India for allegedly doctoring photos of her that appeared on the magazine’s cover.

Veena Malik says she posed in underwear for this cover shoot, but her clothes were edited off. The cover is causing an uproar in Pakistan and India, especially because of the mock ISI tattoo on Malik’s arm (ZOOM IN ON TATTOO), which stands for Inter-Services Intelligence.

The ISI is Pakistan’s intelligence agency. The Telegraph explains the controversy.

“The tattoo alone would have been enough to provoke a backlash in India, where the ISI is routinely blamed for terrorist attacks. … nude images are rare in conservative India – and rarer still in Muslim Pakistan, where clerics have denounced the picture. Add in a bitter regional rivalry between two nuclear powers that have been to war three times and the result is an explosive mix.”

CNN’s Sara Snider reports from Mumbai with more insight.

SARA SNIDER: “The reaction is probably stronger in Pakistan. In India there is a lot of this sort of controversy that goes around with different actresses. Sometimes, you will see controversy because, for example, somebody had a long and extended kiss.”

The BBC spoke with FHM India’s editor, who said the tattoo was meant to be ironic, though Pakistan isn’t taking it that way.

“He said that the image was intended to be playful ... ‘In India we joke about this... if anything goes wrong... we say the ISI must be behind this.’”

Now, Malik is suing FHM India for $1.9 million for loss of reputation. She admits to knowing about the tattoo, but says she did not pose nude. Still, CBS says FHM India will not give in easily.

“FHM … claims Malik was nude throughout the photo shoot, and the magazine has video proof.”

And Powerline blog points out that Malik is not new to controversy. She was denounced once before by clerics when she appeared on India’s version of “Big Brother” and seemed to be flirting with another contestant. At the time, Malik defended her actions, but Powerline says now she seems less sure of herself.

“Miss Malik herself has backpedaled …  Malik acknowledged having been photographed for a ‘bold but not nude shot.’ Not quite the ringing defense that we applauded last time.”

A writer for Pakistan’s The Express Tribune says Malik is on a crusade -- not copping out.

“ … she is associated with the glamour business. … issues of this nature continue to plague Pakistan and accentuate the differences between the fairly open-minded and the overtly strict right-wing.”

Pakistan’s Interior Minister said that Malik may face legal action for the photos, but first it must be determined if they are real or fake.