Sudhanshu Pandey Says He Was Offered A Role Against A Compromise By A Renowned Filmmaker: 'He Is No More'
Sudhanshu Pandey opens up about experiencing casting couch early in his career, saying a renowned late filmmaker offered him a role in exchange for sexual favours.
Actor Sudhanshu Pandey, best known for his successful stint on Anupamaa and current participation in The Traitors, recently shared some frank insights in an interview with Gallata India. A seasoned performer across films, TV, and music videos, Sudhanshu revealed that he, too, has faced the casting couch in Bollywood.
He candidly opened up. He said, 'Yes, I have faced the casting couch. I have been offered work as a barter by a very renowned filmmaker who is now no more. God bless his soul, he was one of the greatest filmmakers. I was offered the role against a compromise."
But he made it clear he holds no ill will toward the person. He said, 'I have nothing against them, I feel they are proposing a certain scenario to you – accepting or not is on you. I never worked to feed anyone's ego; whenever I said it wasn't okay with me, I refused politely. If anyone misbehaves, I might slap them. If they are made a certain way, I have no right to criticize them. If anyone forces me, then I can get very angry. It is normal for every man, and they should stand up for what is right."
On the reality front, the actor—who has appeared in music videos, TV shows, and films—has taken on his first unscripted project with The Traitors. While weighing his options, Sudhanshu confirmed he had explicitly declined a Bigg Boss-style format. Once he understood the vision behind The Traitors, he decided the show suited him.
Sudhanshu Pandey has worked in films, TV shows, and even music. He started his career as a singer in India's first boy band, A Band of Boys. Later, he acted in movies like Singh Is Kinng, Dus Kahaniyaan, and even a Jackie Chan film, The Myth. On TV, he became very popular for his role as Vanraj in the hit show Anupamaa. He has also done web series like The Empire, and recently appeared on the reality show The Traitors.
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Archana Gautam's annoying laugh made me furious, Gaurav Khanna didn't interact much: Usha Nadkarni on Celebrity Masterchef contestants
Veteran actress Usha Nadkarni has been a celebrated name in the Marathi industry as well as on Indian television. After a successful stint in Pavitra Rishta, Usha Nadkarni was last seen on the small screen in Celebrity MasterChef. Recently, during a podcast with Pinkvilla, Usha Nadkarni opened up about her bond with her co-contestants from the show. While she spoke fondly about Faisu and Rajiv Adatia, Usha also explained why she always got furious with Archana Gautam. She even slammed Nikki Tamboli for her bad behaviour. Sharing how she signed up for the show, Usha said, 'I was called at the Sony TV office to meet for the show; 7-8 people were sitting in a room. They asked me a few questions about cooking, then they asked me if I would be interested in participating in Celebrity MasterChef, and I agreed. That's how it happened.' Also Read: Pavitra Rishta actor, almost 80, has been living alone for 40 years; son doesn't consider her as his mother: 'Neend mein mar gayi toh…' Later, she went on to reflect on her bond with her fellow contestants. She said, 'All the kids on the show were very nice, especially Rajiv, Faisu, Chandan, and Kabita. Gaurav was okay; he didn't interact much. I used to get very angry with Archana Gautam being around. Now we are friends, we live close by, but she would say anything, laugh annoyingly, and would fall on the floor, which made me furious. She would tell me I didn't know, and that she did the same things in Bigg Boss, but 'faaltugiri mujhe pasand nahi hai'.' A post shared by Usha Nadkarni🔵 (@usha__nadkarni) 'In Bigg Boss Marathi also, you must have seen I used to sit alone, I love being a loner, have gotten used to it,' she added. When asked about Nikki Tamboli, Usha Nadkarni made a face and said, 'She is a huge star, according to her; in her eyes, we are nobody, so let's not talk about her. I don't talk too much to big people, because they don't talk, and she never mixed around.'
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Faissal Khan to legally separate from family: Will file petition in a month's time
Aamir Khan's brother, Faissal Khan, recently broke all ties with his family. In a recent press conference, the former actor made some serious allegations against his family and also announced filing a petition to cut ties legally with his a recent press conference, Faissal recalled the turmoil he faced in 2002, the year he got married and divorced.'I got married in 2002. But I got divorced the same year. There was pressure on me from the family to get married again. I was feeling very harassed by this. Therefore, I wrote a letter to all the family members explaining my situation and giving examples of bad marriages in the family. They misunderstood me and said that I am mentally unstable.'advertisement He further said, 'I was taken to a mental hospital where I was admitted, and they started giving me medicines. The family does not talk to me. I think Aamir had lost his mind, and he did all this to me under the influence of my mother, Nikhat, Santosh Hegde, and Imtiaz.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)Faissal also alleged that in 2008, when he was offered to participate in 'Bigg Boss' with a signing amount of Rs 4 lakh, the opportunity did not materialise because of Aamir's interference. 'I am sure Aamir found out and stopped it from happening,' he now says he is determined to formally sever ties with his family. 'I will cut ties with the family in a legal way. I will file a petition on this in a month's time. But I won't file a defamation case as I don't want anything from him,' he in an interview with Pinkvilla, Faissal claimed that his family branded him as schizophrenic, labelling him 'a mad person' and a potential danger to society. He further alleged that his brother Aamir once kept him confined in his Mumbai home for over a year. The actor has spoken about his relationship with Aamir in multiple made his acting debut with Vikram Bhatt's 'Madhosh' (1996). He shot to fame with Aamir's 'Mela' (2000), directed by Dharmesh Darshan.- EndsTrending Reel
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Sooraj Barjatya Supports Rupali Ganguly's Call for National Award: 'TV Demands Immense…'
Last Updated: Rupali Ganguly, famous for Anupamaa, urged National Awards for TV actors. Her call, supported by director Sooraj Barjatya, emphasised TV actors' hard work. Rupali Ganguly, one of Indian television's most celebrated stars, has become a household name thanks to her acting and screen presence. While she has been part of several acclaimed shows over the years, it is her iconic role as Anupamaa that has elevated her to a household name. Her portrayal has struck a chord with audiences, earning her an ardent fan base not only in India but across the globe. Recently, Rupali Ganguly sparked an important discussion when she voiced her opinion that television actors deserve recognition at the National Awards as well. Her statement has been widely supported, and now acclaimed Hum Saath Saath Hain director Sooraj Barjatya has also echoed her thoughts. When asked about Rupali Ganguly's remarks on TV actors being honoured at the National Awards, Sooraj Barjatya said, 'I absolutely believe they should. TV is an art form, and it demands immense hard work. If you visit a TV set, you'll see – it's minimum 12–14 hours of continuous work. In films, actors still get breathers, but in TV, actors must continuously live their roles, directors must constantly shoot under restrictions, yet create something touching. If I were asked to direct one episode, I'd take a week! So yes, National Awards should definitely include television actors." What did Rupali Ganguly say about National Awards for TV artists? Earlier this month, Rupali Ganguly voiced her opinion on National Awards and said that TV actors, too, deserve to be felicitated. In a conversation on Viral Bhayani's pap account, Ganguly said, 'There are National Awards for everyone from film stars to content creators. But there's nothing for TV artistes. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, others had the advantage of delaying their shooting schedules, but we kept working. When a film star works continuously, it makes headlines. But no one talked about how we, the TV artists, worked non-stop from 6 am to 6 pm during the pandemic. I request the government to consider us also. We work very hard; it'll be nice to have some validation." Meanwhile, Rupali continues to shine in Anupamaa, a show that has consistently topped the TRP charts. With her powerful performances and emotional depth, she has remained the soul of the series week after week. First Published: August 19, 2025, 17:16 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
