Radhika Apte & Usha Jadhav open up on sexual harassment in Bollywood

Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan opened up the Pandora Box once again, when she spoke openly about Casting Couch that is one of Bollywood’s dark secret. She had defended the prevalence of the practise in Bollywood, but was soon slammed on the social media for her stand. Later she apologised for her comments.

We now have Radhika Apte and Marathi actress Usha Jadhav speaking about the evils of casting couch in a BBC documentary titled ‘Bollywood’s Dark Secret’, which is to be aired soon.

Radhika Apte tells BBC’s Rajini Vaidyanathan in Bollywood’s Dark Secret the reason why many choose to remain silent. She said, “Some people are regarded as gods. They are so powerful that people just don’t think that my voice is going to matter, or people think that if I speak, probably my career is going to get ruined.” (Also Read: Radhika Apte to star in female-driven World War-II drama)

Marathi award winning actress Usha Jadhav too shared shocking details of her own experience with casting couch. She was told to give something in return for the opportunity she had been given. Usha said,”I said something on the lines of, ‘What? I don’t have money’. He said, ‘No, no, no, no. It’s not about money, it’s about you sleeping with, maybe it can be a producer, maybe it can be a director, it can be both too.”

A 25 year old aspiring actress who left her village to try her luck in Bollywood too shared some horrifying tales. She said, “I was molested on a number of occasions, including the first time I met a casting agent. He started telling me that for an actress you should be happy to have sex as and when possible and embrace your sexuality. He touched me wherever he wanted, he kissed me wherever he wanted and I was shocked. He put his hand inside my clothes so I asked him to stop and he said: Do you know what, if you really want to work in this industry I don’t think you’ve got the right attitude.”

The documentary ‘Bollywood’s Dark Secret’ will be unveiled this Saturday and Sunday all over the world.