Bollywood: Saroj Khan apologises after defending casting couch culture

Saroj Khan, veteran Bollywood choreographer, said at an event on Monday that the casting couch has been prevalent in all sectors, not just in the film industry where it "provides livelihood at least".

Khan had said "Can I tell you one thing? This has been happening since the beginning of time. It hasn't started now. Someone or the other tries to take advantage of every other girl. The government's people do it too. Then why are you after the film industry? It provides livelihood at least. Does not rape and leave you. It depends on the girl, what she wants to do. If you don't want to fall in the wrong hands, you won't. If you have art, why would you sell yourself? Don't take the film industry's name."

The National Award-winning choreographer, famous for songs such as ‘Ek Do Teen’ and 'Dola Re Dola', added that the onus of staying safe and avoiding such situations was on women and requested the media to not target the film industry.

The comment comes in the wake of an intense debate after Telugu actress Sri Reddy caused a stir by sitting semi-naked on a road in Hyderabad to protest against the casting couch menace in the film world.

Khan’s comment left people in shock as many took it as a defense of the casting couch culture in the Indian film industry, which has largely remained mum on the issue and avoided naming and shaming offenders, despite many stars speaking up in favour of the global #MeToo movement. The #MeToo movement began when Hollywood stars spoke out against sexual abuse they had been subjected to, after the disclosures about media mogul Harvey Weinstein, alleged to have sexually harassed several actresses over many years.

Actresses Sonam Mahajan and Sri Reddy expressed their disapproval:

Soon after Khans’ comment, Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary stated that it wasn’t only the film industry where the ‘casting couch’ phenomenon existed. “No work place is immune to it.”

Khan later apologised for the comment, saying “Whatever the question, you don't know... You just know my answer. So, it is sounding wrong. But anyhow, I am sorry. I apologise.”

With inputs from agencies

Also read:

Telugu actress Sri Reddy: I stripped to protest casting couch culture

Sri Reddy protest: Tollywood to get special cell on sexual exploitation