Kudos to actor Sruthi Hariharan for speaking the truth about casting couch

Sruthi Hariharan, a popular actor of the Kannada film industry, stirred up a hornet’s nest by sharing her experience of facing the casting couch, an open secret in show business. Speaking at the India Today Conclave South 2018 on “Sexism in Cinema: Time’s Up”, she said that she faced the menace of the casting couch not just when she was new to the industry. It came back to her later, too, in a more horrific way.

Hollywood actors are capable of shaming and silencing their oppressors with the #MeToo movement — a far cry from how things work in India. Yet, it was shocking that the Sandalwood actor had to issue a statement a day after clarifying that by sharing her personal experience about the casting couch, she was not “trying to scare anyone by throwing light on how bad an industry the film industry is – it certainly is not”.

It only proves she might have faced backlash for bringing ignominy to a particular film industry.

This is going to be long . But below is my stand on what transpired at the #SouthConclave18 last evening. #TimesUp . Just for the record a lot of inspiring women have come forward to speak their truth . Huge respect to all of them . pic.twitter.com/DHT8tVJDOD

— sruthihariharan (@sruthihariharan) January 19, 2018

'I faced casting couch when I was 18'

The actor said she has always been honest about such experiences. “I was 18 at that time and I was going to do my first Kannada movie perhaps. I was so scared and petrified that I remember running back crying. I went to my choreographer and said him what had happened. He looked into my eyes and said that if I can’t handle such situation, then I should back off,” she said, adding she had rejected that film. Later, she debuted in Cinema Company (2012), a Malayalam movie.

'We are five and we will exchange you among us'

After about four years of facing the first indecent proposal for a film, Sruthi had another similar encounter. But this time, she was not a debutant. Instead, one of her Kannada films was being remade in Tamil and the producers wanted her to play the role in the Tamil movie too. “This is what they said to me: We are five producers and we will use and exchange you amongst us however we want. Those who want to believe, believe me. Those who don’t want to believe me, I don’t care. This is my experience and I won’t lie about it,” she said. By that time she learnt how to tackle such proposals, she said, adding, “I told them I have a slipper in my hand. You come to me…”

'I stopped getting good Tamil projects'

Words spread and after that episode good Tamil projects ceased to come her way, she said. “It was spread that I was a weird and difficult person to work with. Producers who knew that specific producer came to me and told me what they have heard,” she said. Also, she didn't blame the casting couch for not getting roles. "I may not be good as an actor. I am not ruling out that option too," she said.

'Do not just blame men'

There is no use of blaming only the men behind this practice, she said. “We need more women to say no to casting couch. We need two hands to clap. Do not just blame men. Just because they come and approach me, I should not say ‘yes’. And the truth is, the casting couch will give you your first opportunity, but it won’t help you survive,” she said.

Why u didn't exposed the names who are in casting couch? Ru afraid of them?

— Raghavendra G (@raghsg143) January 19, 2018

"The film industry is a wonderful place to be in and personally, I would have it no other way. It creatively satisfies me, and at the same time makes me feel very blessed with the love I receive from the audience for my work," she tweeted.

"Eventually, it is the deep ingrained mindset, and perception of women we are fighting against. And this can’t be one person’s battle... It’s high time not just women, but men too hollered #TIMESUP. It is high time patriarchy ended," she wrote.

Also read: South Indian film actors tell you why a woman’s body is her USP in cinema