Ankita Lokhande, Radhika Apte, Esha Gupta: Actresses Who Opened Up About Casting Couch Experiences

In an industry often painted with glamour and stardom, several actresses have bravely peeled back the curtain to expose the darker realities they’ve faced—particularly the prevalence of the casting couch. These women, despite having carved out successful careers, were not spared from inappropriate propositions and uncomfortable situations. Their candid confessions have added weight to the ongoing conversation about safety, dignity, and respect in the world of entertainment. Here are a few actresses who opened up about their casting couch experiences:

Pic: Twitter

Ankita Lokhande once spoke about a disturbing incident early in her career during an audition for a South Indian film. In a conversation with Hauterrfly, the actress recalled getting a callback after auditioning for a movie. “I was asked to come and sign the film. I was so happy; I told my mother I’d be back soon. But I also wondered how things had moved so fast,” she shared. Once at the venue, she was asked to enter the room alone, while her coordinator was made to wait outside. “That’s when they told me, ‘You have to compromise.’ When I asked what they meant, the answer was blunt—‘You have to sleep with the producer.’” Ankita was just 19 at the time and admits it was a crushing moment. However, she gave them a strong reply and walked out of the room.

Pic: Twitter

Radhika Apte has also spoken about her brush with the casting couch. In an earlier interview with Bollywood Life, the actress recounted how she once received a bizarre call regarding a meeting for a Bollywood project. “They directly asked if I’d be okay sleeping with someone for the role. I just laughed and told them to go to hell,” Radhika said.

Though she clarified that she has never been explicitly pressured on set, she did mention another instance where a South Indian actor persistently flirted with her during a shoot.

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Kalki Koechlin, acclaimed for her work in both mainstream and independent cinema, reflected on the biases she faced growing up and even as a professional actor. In a conversation with Siddharth Aalambayan, she spoke about being stereotyped and objectified for her appearance. She also acknowledged that she, too, faced the casting couch once.

After auditioning for a film she was genuinely excited about, she received a callback and was asked to meet the producer. “I met the producer in his office with the blinds down, and he said, ‘So, you know this is going to be your big opportunity. You are going to make it with this, and I would really like to know you better. Can we go for dinner?’ I got the drift and said, ‘Listen, it’s not for me. I’m not into that’,” she added.

Pic: Twitter

Esha Gupta discussed facing the casting couch not once, but twice in her career. The actress shared how one filmmaker used underhanded tactics during a shoot to pressure her. “One person still got the film with me, hoping I’d give in later. But I stayed alert. I told them I was scared and always had my make-up artist sleep in the room with me,” she said in a conversation with Bollywood Bubble.

Esha also noted how such predators often target outsiders, knowing they don’t have industry backing. “They wouldn’t dare with star kids,” she added. After her rejection, she recalled the filmmaker became “vindictive and cold”, but said the experience made her stronger.

Pic: Twitter

Prachi Desai also spoke out about being propositioned for a major project. In her conversation with Bollywood Bubble, she described the experience as “very direct and unsettling.” She recalled, “A director made an inappropriate offer for a big film. I said no right away, but he kept calling even after that.”

Prachi stood her ground and made it clear she wouldn’t compromise her values for a role.

Pic: Twitter