Anurag Kashyap Case: Ex-Assistant Jaydeep Sarkar Takes A Stand For The Director, Says He Always Has 'Absolute Respect For Women'
Anurag Kasyap's Ex Assistant On Me Too Charges
Updated : September 21, 2020 03:56 PM IST
Director Anurag Kashyap has found himself in the middle of a controversy after he has been charged with sexual assault by an actress. Payal Ghosh, who has worked in the south industry and one Hindi film has alleged that the director had forced himself on her. He has denied the allegations. Now, he has found support in Jaydeep Sarkar, who worked as his assistant in 2014. He recounted an incident in 2014 when they had been casting for Gulaal.
View this post on Instagram
Taking to social media, he recalled how an actress specifically wanted to meet Anurag during the casting of Gulaal. He wrote, "The young actress probably assumed the only way to get the role was through the ‘casting couch’. She tried suggesting a few ‘favours’ verbally. But when Anurag politely ignored it, she gently let her sari pallu drop. A few times. At this point, Anurag got up and requested her to not do this. He told her she would get the part if she was the right fit and nothing else would work. Saying this, he walked out of the room, disappointed. I was shocked by what I saw, but I had seen a hero get out of a situation, with respect and empathy for her. Later he told me he was disappointed that so many young women feel this is the only way they can make it." Read all the tweets here:
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >This is the right time to recount this story. I was an assistant with @anuragkashyap72 in 2004. I was looking into secondary casting for ‘Gulaal’ and was meeting many actors. A young actress, who really wanted a part in the film insisted she wanted to meet Anurag.
— Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020
Thread ?
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >She waited a while and then Anurag got done with a narration and agreed to meet her. The young actress probably assumed the only way to get the role was through the ‘casting couch’. She tried suggesting a few ‘favours’ verbally.
— Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >but when Anurag politely ignored it, she gently let her sari pallu drop. A few times. At this point, Anurag got up and requested her to not do this. He told her she would get the part if she was the right fit and nothing else would work.
— Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >Saying this, he walked out of the room, disappointed. I was shocked by what I saw, but I had seen a hero get out of a situation, with respect and empathy for her. Later he told me he was disappointed that so many young women feel this is the only way they can make it.
— Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >Saying this, he walked out of the room, disappointed. I was shocked by what I saw, but I had seen a hero get out of a situation, with respect and empathy for her. Later he told me he was disappointed that so many young women feel this is the only way they can make it.
— Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >I don’t blame the woman! Many like her come into the industry, believing this is how you get cast in a movie. And that may even be true, much like in any other field of work.
— Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >But having worked with Anurag, especially in casting, the one thing I always observed was his absolute respect for women.
— Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020
While many have stood in support of the director, like Taapsee Pannu and ex-wife Kalki Koechlin, many have stood with Payal Ghosh, like Kangana Ranaut.