“A casting director said if I become his girlfriend, he will flood me with good roles” -Governance Now

“A casting director said if I become his girlfriend, he will flood me with good roles”

TV actress Leena Acharya narrates her #MeToo ordeal

Geetanjali Minhas | October 15, 2018 | Mumbai

#time up #women safety #Tanushree Dutta #MJ Akbar #molestation #office harassment #sexual harassment #MeToo #Leena Acharya

Leena Acharya

I have been in the television industry for four years now. A director once said to me, “You have the looks but you have not done work that gives you recognition.” He said that if I join hands with him life will be easy and I will not have to go for audition anywhere. I told him to back off and never spoke to him again.

Many young girls who come into the industry are not prepared for the struggle and want things easy. Once I was called for a movie audition at Costa Coffee. I felt weird about the location. The production girl there asked me if I liked my work and if was willing to ‘compromise’ with the coordinator, director and producer. I left the place. At another time a casting director suggested if I become his girlfriend, he will flood me with good roles and branded clothes.

Also Read: #MeToo is here to stay

Answering the nay-sayers to #MeToo

Vinta Nanda recounts her gut-wrenching #MeToo story

A gay recounts his trauma

Casting directors make tall promises to girls who often think they wield influence in casting for the lead roles. Girls entering the industry have an impression that close proximity with casting directors will get them roles. But their job is to only provide options for roles. It is the collective decision of the production house and channel heads to cast for important roles. Nowadays multiple casting directors are engaged to provide casting options for roles.

I am satisfied with work on hand. At present, I have a good role in the serial, ‘Perfect Pati’. Many of my friends are sitting without work despite their struggle for years. Others have struggled for a long time before they landed in good roles. It takes a few years in the industry to realise who or what holds water.

South Indian and Bhojpuri film industries are notorious for casting couch. Once I was called to audition a ‘hot’ scene for a mother’s role in a Bhojpuri film! At another time when my roommate was called to audition for a Bhojpuri film she was asked to compromise to get the role.

Comparatively, the television and fashion industries are safe for women and very unsafe for men and gays. They are badly harassed. My male friends often share their casting couch experiences. My friend Nikhil who had come here from Dubai to try his luck in acting was propositioned by a casting director with the promise that he will get only lead roles. But by the end of it he was so frustrated that he went back to Dubai.

As told to Geetanjali Minhas

(The article appears in October 31, 2018 edition)

Comments

Other News

"Insurance companies can`t change policy at whim"

An insurance policy cannot be changed at the whims and fancies of the insurance company, noted consumer rights advocate Jehangir Gai has said, against the backdrop of an increasing number arbitrary rejection of insurance claims due to vague policy clauses, unilateral changes to policy terms without obtaini

ATF likely to come under GST: Hardeep Puri

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is likely to be brought under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the near future, petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said, signalling a potential change in aviation fuel taxation. Speaking to the press in Mumbai on Friday ahead of In

Budget 2025: Meeting the expectations of youth and middle class

The new year brings with it a mix of hope and expectations, especially among the youth and middle class who have placed their trust in the Narendra Modi government. The upcoming Union Budget is being eagerly awaited by these two groups in particular, in the hope it addresses the very real concerns of a gen

This book on Gujaratis is like a sumptuous ‘thaali’…

The Gujaratis: A Portrait of a Community By Salil Tripathi Aleph Books, 744 pages, Rs 1,499 “As the l

At Davos, Maharashtra inks MoUs worth Rs 15.70 lakh crore

The Maharashtra government has signed 54 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs. 15.70 lakh crore at the ongoing WOrld Economic Forum in Davos. The highest ever investment proposals of the state government are expected to generate 15.95 lakh jobs. The largest MoU was inked with Relianc

How Renewable Energy revolution is sweeping across India

As India accelerates its transition towards a sustainable future, its renewable energy (RE) sector has witnessed unprecedented growth. In 2024, the country made significant strides in solar and wind energy installations, policy advancements, and infrastructural improvements, setting the stage for ambitious