Those who do not belong to the film industry assume that the ‘casting couch’ is rampant in the film industry. Even celebrities are reluctant to talk on the topic (is it that because its true?).
However, there are some Bollywood celebrities who don’t mind sharing what they have experienced. Actress Surveen Chawla (Hate Story) is one of them.
But surprisingly, Surveen says that she never encountered the casting couch in Bollywood, but she did witness it in the southern film industry.
“I feel very great that I have not encountered this (casting couch) here (Bollywood). I have faced this (casting couch) down south and of course I refused to give into that…Honestly I can only comment on it if I had encountered it in Bollywood. I don’t know if I should call it sheer luck,” said Surveen.
Surveen says the casting couch did exist in Bollywood decades ago. However, Bollywood has progressed and things are more professional now and filmmakers want to cast actors purely on the basis of talent.
The presence of stronger women and filmmakers in the industry, who love cinema (and cast purely on merit) has also helped a great deal.
But what about those who give in to the demands?
“People wanting to give in to such demands only makes things worse for people. But (I am) not desperate to give in to anything to barter myself in exchange of work…I am too much in love with my dignity and self-respect. Work will bring me work and that’s my motto,” she added.
“Luckily, I have not had one single influence of casting couch, which goes a lot to say about the progress that Bollywood has made,” said Surveen.
Watch: ‘Aaj Phir’ song from Hate Story 2 featuring Surveen Chawla
