Casting couch is something which has been happening behind the scenes and it is not at all a new concept rather it is as old as our civilization. People started noticing it very recently. Several actresses have been a victim of harassment in the Film Industry as well.
The casting couch is a practice of asking for sexual favours from a job applicant in exchange for a job in the entertainment industry, especially acting roles. The casting couch originally referred to physical couches in the casting office. This practice is termed illegal in the United States.
Male casting directors, as well as, film producers use the casting couch in a bid to extract sex from ambitious actresses in Hollywood, Bollywood and other segments of the cinema industry.
Time and again actresses have spoken up against the casting couch and harassment. Previously, #MeToo movement hit the headlines which exposed some popular names from several professional fields across the country.
Ravi Kishan reveals facing Casting Couch by a Woman
Meanwhile, the actor-politician Ravi Kishan has shared that he had indeed faced casting couch by a woman who is now a “big shot”. He disclosed that he was offered a ‘coffee at night’ by the woman. In fact, he chose not to name.
He was asked about casting couch during his recent appearance on the chat show named ‘Aap ki Adalat’, as per a media report. “Yeah, it happened and this is something that happens in the industry. But I somehow managed to escape. My father had taught me that I should approach my work with honesty, I never wanted to take a shortcut. I knew I was talented,” he said.
Ravi added: “I can’t name her, because she has become a big shot now. She had said, ‘Coffee peene raat me aayie. I thought that is something people prefer to have during the day, so I got the hint and refused,” he said as per a media report.
For the record, Ravi Kishan is a massive star in the Bhojpuri film industry. He has worked in Hindi, Telugu and Kannada movies. Moreover, he was seen in the web series ‘Khakee: The Bihar Chapter’ and besides that, he has hosted a singing reality show ‘Swarn Swar Bharat’.
When Ayushmann Khurrana opened up about shocking casting couch experience
Ayushmann Khurrana is one of the popular actors in the Bollywood film industry. The Delhi-based radio jockey is also a wonderful singer who plies his trade predominantly in Bollywood movies. It is also worth mentioning here that he is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards.
He grew up watching Bollywood’s top actor Amitabh Bachchan on the silver screen and then came to Mumbai to pursue his dreams. He also kick-started his career in the entertainment industry as a VJ and then went on to become a big face.
Moreover, he also faced several rejections and had some disturbing experiences. Ahead of his debut film, the actor also experienced a casting couch.
During an old interview, he recalled the the incident. He said he was turned down by a casting director after he rejected to take an unpleasant offer.
“A casting director had told me, ‘I’ll give you the lead role if you showed me your tool.’ I told him I’m straight and I politely refused his offer” Ayushmann had shared in an interview with Pinkvilla.
Ranveer Singh recalls his casting couch experience, discloses he was called to a seedy place
Ranveer who is one of the dashing personalities in Bollywood spoke about how one producer called him at a seedy place where he actually asked him if he is a hard worker or a smart worker.
“This guy calls me to this seedy place and is like, ‘Are you a hard worker, or a smart worker?’. I didn’t consider myself to be smart, so I said: ‘I think I’m a hard worker.’ He was like, ‘Darling, be smart, be sexy,” Ranveer Singh replied.