Images

The casting couch exists, says Ranveer Singh as he recounts his shocking experience

The casting couch exists, says Ranveer Singh as he recounts his shocking experience

The actor revealed that a casting director once asked him for a sexual favour instead of looking at his portfolio
14 Dec, 2015

You don't usually hear casting couch stories being aired publicly, especially in Bollywood.

But Ranveer Singh isn't afraid of speaking out.

'Casting couch' is a term used to describe the exploitation of aspiring actors at the hands of relatively more powerful directors or producers.

In a short interview with NDTV, Ranveer didn't hold back when he was asked about the existence of a casting couch scene in Bollywood. The actor came forward to share his own experience when asked to negotiate terms for a movie.

Narrating the incident, Ranveer said that the casting couch definitely exists: "There was a very sleazy gentleman in the northern suburbs and he called me over to his house."

`

`

He added that when he handed the man his portfolio, the casting director didn't even look at it and instead turned to him and said: "You have to be smart, you have to be sexy, those who are both succeed."

He then asked for a sexual favour from Ranveer. Although Ranveer refused him straight away, it was later known that the person would ask for similar favours from many struggling actors.

Another actor, Tisca Chopra has also been vocal about this issue and she too asserted that both men and women face such dilemmas: "It's a question of supply and demand. The supply of actors is far greater than their demand and so the directors and producers demand something extra for giving chances to aspirants," she said at the launch of her book Acting Smart earlier this year.

The film Khoya Khoya Chand released in 2007 addressed this issue, where the lead actor Soha Ali Khan had to go through many such instances.

Comments

wellwisher Dec 14, 2015 01:59pm
my friends son is a struggling actor in Mumbai.He was offered a modelling assignment, a week in Switzerland for shoot all expenses paid, five lakh rupees,and sexual perverted pleasure.He refused.
Recommend
tellmore Dec 14, 2015 02:51pm
Pakistani film Industry appears to be clean of this type of exploitation. The only thing is - big budget films do not come in Pakistan. Further, most films are stereotype and do not have variety. Need much more work to be done to get recognition.
Recommend
A Sheikh Dec 14, 2015 05:32pm
@tellmore Are you out of your mind. This thing exists everywhere, including Pakistan.
Recommend
T Khan Dec 14, 2015 07:03pm
I am looking for furniture. Where I can buy this casting couch?
Recommend