Rajeev Khandelwal has shared his views on the prevalence and evil of casting couch in the showbiz industry in a recent interview. He believes that people who succumb to it always had a choice to say no and hence they are also a party to the blame. He also revealed that he was one propositioned by a star filmmaker in exchange for a two-film deal, ahead of his Bollywood debut.
Being asked for sexual favours in return for acting roles is something very common in the Indian film industry. Many people were named and shamed in India’s MeToo movement that started in 2018 but it later fizzled out. Now, during an interview with an eminent journalist when Rajeev was asked whether these people should named and shamed he said, “No, I don’t think so at all. It’s not just about that person, but the one who gives into casting couch is equally responsible. How can you say a woman is being exploited, because she doesn’t mind getting exploited. Then she talks about casting couch because she thinks the other man was more powerful. No, somewhere you lacked confidence, you lacked self belief. Otherwise you wouldn’t have allowed.”
He further added, “Casting couch is not rape where you are forced upon. What I understand from casting couch is that you are subjected to a situation where you get some benefit out of it. One who is exploited is probably a weaker person, one who didn’t have enough confidence that they can do without it.”
He also stressed that there are indeed many examples where people did not have to face a casting couch and they got the roles by cracking auditions and through their talent and merit. He cited his own example where he made his Bollywood debut in Aamir which was a relatively smaller film and said, “In my case, I experienced someone trying to exploit me but I didn’t give in. I said my self-confidence is huge and I won’t remain workless if you don’t give me work. I will probably get work on my own terms and conditions and I did. Should that person be shamed? No. He didn’t rape me, he didn’t do anything offensive. He just gave me an option and the choice was mine.”
(Source: Rajeev Masand)
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