Veteran Actress Renuka Shahane Exposes Casting Couch Horrors in Bollywood

In a recent interview, popular Bollywood actress Renuka Shahane, known for her roles in films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Tribhanga, has spoken out about the casting couch culture in the Indian film industry. Shahane recounted an unpleasant experience from her early days, where a producer visited her home and propositioned her to become the brand ambassador of a saree company in exchange for a monthly stipend to live with him, despite him being married. Shahane and her mother were shocked by the indecent proposal.

Shahane revealed that even established actresses like Raveena Tandon took precautions to avoid unwanted advances, such as frequently changing hotel rooms during outdoor shoots to ensure their location was not known. Shahane emphasized that refusing such advances can come at a price, as powerful people in the industry may seek revenge and try to blacklist the actress, preventing them from getting work.

The actress lamented that the #MeToo movement had waned over time, allowing some of the accused to return to work without facing consequences. Shahane stressed that without proper evidence like a police case, it becomes difficult to prove allegations, leaving victims vulnerable to further victimization by the industry's "club" mentality.