Aftab Shivdasani once revealed he faced casting couch during early days in his career: 'He used to call me late at night...'

Time of India

18-07-2025

Aftab Shivdasani shared his casting couch experience on 'Yaaron Ki Baraat'. He received inappropriate late-night calls from an industry figure. Aftab distanced himself from the situation. Ram Gopal Varma launched him in 'Mast' after spotting him in a commercial. He has films like 'Welcome To The Jungle' and 'Kasoor 2' lined up. 'Masti 4' is also in the pipeline.
Aftab Shivdasani
has always maintained a grounded presence in the industry. But behind the glitz and glamour of his career lies a chapter many don't talk about openly. The actor once recalled facing the casting couch during his early days in the industry.
Revealing the Unspoken on National Television
Aftab Shivdasani and
Vivek Oberoi
appeared as guests on Yaaron Ki Baraat, hosted by
Riteish Deshmukh
and Sajid Khan. During a candid segment, Aftab opened up about facing the casting couch early in his career. He revealed that a well-known figure from the industry would repeatedly call him late at night, asking him to come to a hotel. Sensing the inappropriate intent behind the calls, Aftab chose to distance himself and stopped responding. The Kasoor actor's revelation shed light on the uncomfortable realities many newcomers face in the industry.
When Red Flags Became Clear
He further recalled facing the casting couch early in his career, during his transition from modelling and music videos to acting. He shared that a well-known industry figure had promised him a film but would repeatedly call him late at night, making him uncomfortable. Sensing the inappropriate intent behind the interactions, Aftab chose to distance himself and stopped responding. Though he did not name the individual, he acknowledged that the experience was unsettling and a harsh reminder of the hidden challenges many newcomers face in the entertainment world.
by Taboola
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Undo
A Breakthrough with
Ram Gopal Varma
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma launched Aftab as a lead actor in the 1999 film Mast, opposite
Urmila Matondkar
. However, Aftab revealed in a chat with ETimes that his casting had nothing to do with his background as a child actor. While still in school, he frequently auditioned for commercials just for the love of being on camera. It was during one of those ad shoots—a cola commercial—that he caught RGV's eye, eventually leading to his big Bollywood debut.
On the work front, the actor has featured in several hit films over the years, including Kasoor, Awara Paagal Deewana, Hungama, Footpath, 1920: The Evil Returns, and Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3. Up next, he's gearing up for a packed slate with exciting projects like Welcome To The Jungle—Akshay Kumar's multi-starrer comedy, Masti 4 alongside Riteish Deshmukh and Vivek Oberoi, and Kasoor 2, where he's paired opposite
Urvashi Rautela
.