‘Shab’ actor Ashish Bisht reveals that he had been a victim of casting couch

Even in this era, it is really surprising to know that casting couch exists. Bollywood has evolved and so has the mentality, but this menace of casting couch does not seem to leave the industry. Ashish Bisht, who is making his Bollywood debut with film ‘Shab’, has revealed that even he has been the victim of this offence. While talking about the same to a news agency, Ashish said, “I have faced that (casting couch) a lot in the industry. Whenever I was called by some producers, I was straight away questioned, ‘Kya tum bed pe comfortable ho (Are you comfortable in bed)?. When I was new to the city, even the ladies asked me to sleep with them if I wanted work. They called me home and tried to talk dirty with me.”

He revealed how persistent people get by saying, “There are some film producers in the industry who irritate the hell out of you with their messages. I feel stuck because if I respond, what do I say? And if I don’t, they will see that I’ve read the message. Even if I dodge the topic, they come back to the same question.”

Ashish who is being applauded for his performance in ‘Shab’ also narrated an incident when he was openly told that he will not get work if he is not willing to get laid. Ashish said, “There was a known designer. I did not know for what kind of project (ad or serial) had he called me for. There was no one but him in the room when I reached the venue. He straight away asked me if I was ready to sleep with someone. When I questioned him about it, he just said, ‘If you’re ready to sleep with me, you will get work. That really pissed me off. As it is, as a struggler, one is spending money on travelling for different auditions and I am short on money, and you call me for this.” (Also Read: Onir reveals how Ashish Bisht auditioned nearly twenty times for ‘Shab’)

The handsome man is making his debut with filmmaker Onir, who has always been open about his sexual orientation. This too created a problem for Ashish. He quipped, “I am lucky that I got to work with Onir… But people have indeed asked me or talked behind my back that ‘Ashish must have or has definitely has compromised to get the project. I know very well what I have done or not done. I don’t need to clarify on my ‘compromises’. I feel people will always talk as they always need and hunt for something to gossip on. I respect Onir sir a lot. I never expected that I will get a project without compromising, but I am lucky that I did.”

‘Shab’ releases on July 14.

Nikita Thakkar

A strongly opinionated, free-spirited, budding Bollywood journalist, she likes to write anything in her own quirky style. When not running around to get assigned tasks completed, you will find her either painting, indulging in photography or dreaming in the la la land.