Casting couch in bollywood: Has it really changed? Surveen Chawla reveals how #MeToo movement affected it
Surveen Chawla recently spoke openly about her experiences with the casting couch in Bollywood, highlighting the difficulties she faced early in her career. She believes the MeToo movement has played a key role in creating fear around such practices, leading to more ethical casting based on talent rather than influence. Surveen also discussed the improvements in workplace safety, including stricter laws and the use of intimacy coordinators.
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Facing Casting Couch: A Candid Reflection
Industry Evolution and Safer Work Environments
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Casting couch has long been one of the darker realities of the entertainment industry, affecting many aspiring actors, especially women. In recent years, however, the #MeToo movement has sparked a much-needed conversation around these issues and pushed for greater accountability. Actress Surveen Chawla recently opened up about her personal experiences with the casting couch, how the industry has evolved, and the positive changes she has observed in casting practices and work environments today.Surveen Chawla has openly discussed her experiences with casting couch in Bollywood, sharing how challenging those times were for her. Speaking candidly with ETimes, she admitted that while she faced difficulties earlier in her career, she hasn't encountered such situations recently.She said, 'I have always been very candid and honest regarding the casting couch. I don't know if it still exists or not because I haven't had an experience in the recent past. And I don't know what newcomers are going through at this point in time—but it was tough. It was very difficult.'Chawla emphasized that the #MeToo movement has played a crucial role in creating fear around the casting couch, helping to curb such practices.According to Surveen, the casting process in Bollywood is becoming more professional and talent-driven. She believes the involvement of credible casting agencies has shifted focus to selecting actors based on skills and suitability for roles, rather than on favoritism or exploitation.She explained, 'I believe people are relying on casting agencies and getting more serious casting agencies in the business today. You're getting chosen, selected based on your talent, on your skills—no matter where you come from, no matter what your power position is in the industry. If you fit the bill, you fit the role, you get the part.' Surveen also pointed out that actors now often undergo screen tests as a standard part of casting, reinforcing meritocracy.The actress credited casting agencies for their positive impact and said this change has likely contributed to a decline in casting couch incidents, though she cautiously refrained from making definitive claims. Moreover, she welcomed stricter laws and protocols, including the introduction of intimacy coordinators on sets, as essential steps to ensure safe working conditions for all genders.In another interview with Hautterfly, Surveen Chawla also spoke about her early days in the television industry, particularly during her time on the show Kahiin Toh Hoga. She recalled facing a harsh work environment where actors were often treated as mere products of a factory-like system.Surveen shared, 'I would shoot for Balaji for four days a week. Aisa lagta tha ke qayanat ka haath hai mere sar pe. I had no experience in this field. People would laugh at my accent.' She further described uncomfortable experiences with a director on the show, saying, 'A lot of women had issues working with him, but he remained a favourite of the production house. It felt like we were being sent to the slaughterhouse. As long as work was being done, nothing else mattered — there was no right or wrong.'Surveen expressed relief that the industry is now addressing these issues more seriously. In her ETimes interview, she highlighted the importance of protecting actors and creating inclusive, respectful sets. 'A lot of troubling things happened on sets—not in my experience, but I've heard a lot of times, you know, back then maybe. So I think the protection and the safe environment for people working on set—for women working on set, for men working on set—is of utmost importance today. So I'm glad that it's being acknowledged.'Currently seen in Criminal Justice season 4, Surveen continues to be a strong voice advocating for ethical treatment and safe workspaces within the entertainment industry.
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