Popular Indian actress Shriya has shared a disturbing casting couch experience in a recent interview, once again bringing into the light the ugly truth that always exists beneath the sheen and shine of the entertainment business. Shriya, a West Bengal actress, has appeared in numerous films and web shows. She has shared screen space with South Indian megastar Rajinikanth, Suriya, and Bollywood hero Salman Khan in the film Sikandar.

In her interview, Shriya uncovered that she had been a victim of casting couch in Chennai in 2014. She told that she had gone to an audition at the office of a renowned director with her mother. But what went on in the director’s cabin left her stunned and traumatized. “When I entered, the director made me sit on his lap and act out a scene,” she recalled.

Shriya described how she was quite young at the time and was very scared. She made an excuse, telling the director that she would work on the scene and come back the next day — but never returned. She also added that experiences like these drove her away from the industry for a time and were one of the reasons she later moved to Mumbai.

Though she did not mention the director’s name, Shriya revealed her experience to bring forth the plight of young women in the world of films. Her account is not an isolated one — several actresses like Fatima Sana Shaikh, Kalki Koechlin, and Tanushree Dutta have also spoken about the commonality of casting couch in the Indian film industry.

Shriya’s brave disclosure comes as a reminder that behind cinema’s bright lights, there continue to be substantial problems that have to be sorted out. Her hope, and that of numerous others, is that by telling her story, the industry will become a more secure, better mannered arena where talent can be celebrated without sacrificing dignity.

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