Saroj Khan Defends Casting Couch In Bollywood, And Here’s How Twitterati Reacted

Hollywood’s casting couch problem was one of the major contributors to the birth of MeToo movement and it came into the limelight after a bunch of actresses came forward against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. They came forward and addressed the sexual assaults they faced at the hands of Weinstein all while they were working with him or were lured in for a possible work prospect.

However, in Hollywood’s distant southeast Asian cousin, Bollywood, things are a bit different. Not in the casting couch department, they both are the same, but in the department where people from the industry actually come forward to defend the practice.

Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan at a recent press conference in Mumbai, defended the practice of casting couch in the film industry, saying it at least provides a livelihood. She was asked about her opinion on the ongoing allegations by Sri Reddy that have shaken up the Telugu film industry. As per ANI, the veteran choreographer said, “Yeh chala aa raha hai Baba azam ke zamaane se. Har ladki ke upar koi na koi haath saaf karne ki koshish karta hai. Govt ke log bhi karte hain. Tum film industry ke peeche kyun pade ho? Woh kam se kam roti toh deti hai. Rape karke chhod toh nahi deti: Saroj Khan on Casting Couch. (This has been going on for ages. Everybody wants to try on a girl, even the government employees. Why are you after the film industry? At least they provide a livelihood. They don’t leave someone after raping them.)”

Now, this is not a statement that could be let go off easily. We all somewhere deeply know about the casting couch practice in the industry, however, it’s this thought behind the practice that has kept it alive.

While many came forward with their own criticism of the words spoken by Saroj Khan, other’s came out in support of an agreement to the statement and considering she was blatantly honest with her statement. Check out the reactions over here.

Saroj Khan since then has come forward with an apology. She said, “I apologise for my statement.”

No matter which side you stand (which is absolutely bizarre considering there’s nothing right about the statement given by the veteran choreographer) but the truth is, it’s been too long since women in this world are considered mere objects. And, a thought process like this one is the real reason behind its prevalence, still.

Jyotsna Amla