Isha Koppikar Recounts Her Casting Couch Experience, Says Learnt Self Defense For The Same

Ever since the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the country, many Bollywood celebrities have come forward and shared their horrible experiences and most of them have got to do with the casting couch. Recently, actress Isha Koppikar also opened up about her horrible experience and talked about the casting couch that she had to face.

Talking about the incident, the Krishna Cottage actress said, “Yes, I have been propositioned. One producer told me, 'This film is happening. Call up this actor, you need to be in the good books of actors. So I called him. He's told me his full timetable. He's an early morning person and he goes to the gym at this time. He asked me to meet him in between his dubbing and something he was doing. He asked me who I was coming with and I told him I will be coming with my driver. He said, 'Don't come with anybody'. I was not 15 or 16 then. I knew what was happening. So I told him, 'I am not free tomorrow, I'll let you know. I immediately called up the producer and told him that he should cast me for my talent. But then, I can't be forced into doing all these things for a role. That is what is intimidating for a lot of people. When a woman says no, they can't take it. And temporarily, you're written off. I never ended up working with that actor.”

The actress also shared her experience with nepotism and said, “A lot of times I was about to get a role. But someone would call and their daughter or the starlet would get the film. Or if someone is with someone - whether she is his muse or girlfriend, she has got the role. So I have been hit by nepotism a few times.”