Bollywood celebrities who spoke about casting couch

Alia Bhatt is one of the most talented actresses of the young generation. Alia is currently riding high with the success of 'Raazi'. The actress received a lot of appreciation for portraying Sehmat so well in the film. Now during an interaction with an entertainment portal, Alia Bhatt spoke about casting couch in Bollywood. Alia even shared some piece of advice for those who face the issue in the industry.

In the interaction, Alia said that the discussion on casting couch has suddenly become a burning topic. She further added that whenever such topics are discussed, the environment becomes very negative and people start thinking that the whole industry is bad.

Alia further added that though, she hasn't faced the issue in the industry, she does acknowledge that it exists. She shared that at times many boys and girls have to go through some bad situations in order to get work. Alia added that everyone has to face some struggles in order to get work and some people could use strugglers for their benefit.

Alia even shared an advice to all aspiring actors who have to face it. She said they should always believe in themselves and if they are confronted with such experience than they should immediately inform their parents and go to the police.

On the work front, Alia will be next seen in 'Gully Boy' along with Ranveer Singh and 'Brahmastra' along with Ranbir Kapoor.

Saroj Khan shocked many with her views on casting couch in Bollywood. Khan justified the practise, and Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury, added even the parliament was not immune from it. The veteran choreographer later apologized for her remarks. The latest entrant to join the debate is Shatrughan Sinha. The thespian actor said that neither is Renuka Chowdhury wrong nor Saroj Khan. Shatru said that sexual favours are demanded and given in both, the entertainment world and politics and it’s an old and time-tested way of getting ahead in life.

He added that the concept of ‘you please me, I’ll please you’ has been happening since time immemorial and there is nothing to be upset about. Shatru also defended Saroj Khan’s contribution to cinema and he completely agrees with her and Renuka’s views on the kind of compromises girls have to make to get into films.

The former two time Lok Sabha Member of Parliament doesn’t endorse the practice though and said that he would never be part of such a compromise, but we cannot shut our eyes to the reality around us. Sinha asserted that Saroj Khan should not be condemned for speaking the truth, those who create such situations should be rather condemned. Signing off on a questionable note, the ‘Kalicharan’ actor said being part of a casting couch arrangement was a personal choice and that no one is forcing any girl or boy to lie down on the couch. Shotgun also wondered that if one has something to give and if they are offering it to someone who is interested, where is the coercion or compulsion in that.

National Award-winning actress Usha Jadhav, best known for her films ‘Traffic Signal’, ‘Dhag’, ‘The Mumbai Trilogy’ and ‘Veerappan’, recounted an instance as she was directly instructed to "sleep" with a person who could provide her a chance to act in a film.

In a recent documentary, Usha described one conversation, where she was told she would need to give something in return for an opportunity in a film. She recounted that she replied on the lines of, 'What? I don't have money' and the person said, 'No, no, no, no. It's not about money, it's about you sleeping with, maybe it can be a producer, maybe it can be a director, it can be both too.”

The ghost of casting couch sprung up into the news after veteran choreographer Saroj Khan made some controversial remarks about the issue. Ranbir Kapoor, who will be next seen in Rajkumar Hirani's ‘Sanju’ – the official biopic on Sanjay Dutt's life. While at the teaser launch of ‘Sanju’, Ranbir was questioned about a host of topics that are being discussed in the country as well as the entertainment industry.

Ranbir was asked about his views on the casting couch, and the star actor said, "I have never faced casting couch. If it's there then it's the worst thing." ‘Sanju’ also stars Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Vicky Kaushal, Jim Sarbh, Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala. It is scheduled to hit the screens on June 29, 2018.

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While casting couch in Bollywood is a prevailing truth that people seldom talk about, choreographer Saroj Khan recently gave a very bizarre justification for it.

The veteran choreographer reportedly said that the practice of casting couch has been going on for ages and that there is nothing new about it. According to her, someone or the other always try to take advantage of a girl. The government does that too so why blame only the film industry?

Saroj Khan also reportedly added that casting couch at least provides livelihood and that it does not rape you and leave you. She was also of the view that it is up to the girl, what she wants to do and that if one has art, they won’t sell themselves. Khan also urged people to stop taking the film industry’s name as it means everything to them.

Every industry has been plagued by issues when it comes to the wrongful use of power by authorities, and the entertainment world has had its own share of problems. One of Bollywood’s most talked about concern has been the topic of casting couch. With the advent of a more wide-reaching media, many perpetrators of this crime have been apprehended, but to say that casting couch has been completely eradicated would be a gross overstatement. Documenting how casting couch still exists, here are some of Bollywood stars who went on record to talk about it.

Kangana Ranaut is known for her sheer candour and outspokenness which she brings to all of her interviews and public appearances. The ‘Simran’ actor also had a few thoughts on the issue of casting couch. She said, “Fortunately, I never had to go through the casting couch. Honestly, I feel somebody has to be really dumb to think that they’d get a role for sleeping around. And I have never been so dumb — not even at the age of 17 when I started my career. People should use their common sense. It’s stupid if you actually believe someone who tells you that he or she is giving you a role only if you please him or her. If the casting couch route was so easy, then all the women from the red light area would have been superstars today.”

Speaking about the issue, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ star Ranveer Singh said, “Yes, casting couch does exist in the industry. I've experienced it during my struggling days. But it depends on how you tackle the situation. I chose to decline politely.”

'Parched' actress Radhika Apte recalled the horrors of being offered a role in a Bollywood film, on the condition of being 'okay sleeping with that person'. In a conversation with an online portal, Radhika revealed that she knows a lot of instances of casting couch and also knew a number of people who have gone through it. The actress who feels 'fortunate enough' that such conditions have not come her way, recalled an instance of a South actor trying to get 'flirtatious'. As she turned him down by being rude, he later went on to fight with her. She shocked everyone when she said that even a Bollywood film came her way, and was asked to meet the makers. But, on the condition that she would have to sleep with that person. Radhika said she laughed it off and said that she would not do such a thing and asked the man to 'go to hell'.

In an interview with ANI, Ayushmann Khurrana also spoke about an incident he experienced while trying to find work. The actor said that while he was working in the television industry, he was asked for sexual favours by a casting director. "In fact, I have been through that initially when I was part of the industry. I was a TV anchor, so a casting director directly told me that I would have to do it. So, I told him that if I was not straight, I might have given it a thought, but I can't do it. So yeah, the casting couch exists, but eventually, it's your talent or potential as an actor or performer which would last. You don't need to give in to such stuff," said Ayushmann.
The 'Vicky Donor' actor said, on a personal level, he would not judge anyone if they take up the offer to become a part of tinsel town, but it is unethical on the part of the casting director to ask for such favours. Ayushmann added that only talent is enough to prove oneself.

Kalki Koechlin said that she has also encountered the plight of casting couch but she managed to slip through it. Here’s what she had to say, “I must say, of course, it exists! It did try and entangle me in its grip but I am slippery, I always managed to get out of it. The minute I felt uncomfortable, I walked away! The crux of the matter is that a bad actor, however much she works her way through the casting couch, will never sustain. She still remains a bad actor! The casting couch is not the answer to any aspiring actor’s route to success.”

This is what ‘Youngistaan’ actor Jackky Bhagnani had to say about casting couch, “The casting couch exists in every industry. People want to know more about films, so it gets publicized. Unfortunately, it exists and it's only practical and sensible to accept it. If you are willing to take shortcuts, it's your call.”

Saiyami Kher, who made his debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Mirzya' opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor, said she feels sad that women are often exploited in the industry. She revealed that she was caught in a similar situation, but bluntly told the lady not to call her ever. Deeming such situations as uncomfortable, she said it’s difficult to not have a support system in Bollywood.