In a candid revelation that has stirred conversations about Bollywood's hidden realities, veteran journalist Simi Chandoke has addressed the pervasive yet often whispered-about issue of the casting couch. She highlighted that this exploitative practice is not limited to female actors but has also ensnared many male actors during their formative years in the industry.
The Unnamed Director and Industry's Open Secret
During a recent podcast appearance on 'Verinteresting', Chandoke referenced a well-known filmmaker without disclosing his name. She pointed out that this particular director has collaborated with top stars including Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Hrithik Roshan, and Shahid Kapoor. "Everyone knows he is gay," she stated, adding that he has never had a long-term relationship with a woman, except for one brief liaison that ended suddenly.
Chandoke used this example to underscore a deep-seated fear within the film fraternity. She questioned whether the Indian audience would accept a Bollywood hero romancing a heroine on screen if he openly identified as gay or bisexual. This fear, according to her, perpetuates a culture of secrecy and discrimination.
Fear, Homophobia, and the Casting Couch Nexus
Simi Chandoke explained that homophobia within Bollywood creates a complex web of fear that directly fuels the casting couch menace. "If a director openly comes out about his sexuality, many leading actors would hesitate to work with him. They fear the casting couch," she asserted. She clarified that such apprehensions are not baseless, as many actors have confessed to being propositioned for sexual favours in exchange for roles during their struggling days.
She specifically named actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Ranveer Singh as among those who have publicly spoken about facing such compromising situations. Their accounts lend credibility to the widespread nature of the problem, challenging the notion that only aspiring actresses are vulnerable.
Ranveer Singh's Harrowing Experience
Chandoke's comments bring back into focus Ranveer Singh's own disturbing account, which he shared with NDTV nearly a decade ago. Recounting an incident from his early career, Singh described being summoned late in the evening by a "very sleazy gentleman" from the Northern Suburbs of Andheri in Mumbai.
Despite carrying a professionally prepared portfolio, the man showed no interest in it. Instead, he advised Singh that being "smart and sexy" was the way to get ahead in the industry. The situation turned overtly predatory when the man suggested, "Take, touch," and even tried to negotiate by saying, "I won’t do anything, just let me touch." A shocked Singh refused and fled the location. He later discovered from fellow struggling actors that this individual had a pattern of such behaviour.
Simi Chandoke's revelations peel back the glossy veneer of Bollywood, exposing a systemic issue where power dynamics, fear of sexuality, and exploitation intersect. Her insights force a long-overdue conversation on the need for safer, more inclusive, and transparent professional environments within the Indian film industry.
