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Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Surveen Chawla breaks silence on casting couch trauma and the cost of saying ‘no' in Bollywood: 'It was crazy'
In a candid conversation with Sidharth Kanan, actor Surveen Chawla opened a window into the darkest corners of her professional journey—one overshadowed by the casting couch culture that nearly drove her to quit the industry altogether. What she endured was not just rejection, but a pattern of systemic gatekeeping that punished integrity and rewarded silence. "There was a time when it was all about the casting couch," Surveen admitted during the interview, her voice laced with a raw honesty that left no room for romanticizing Bollywood's glitzy image. 'It was just filthy, dirty to even step out. I was like, you know what, I don't want to do this anymore.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Management MCA Data Analytics Leadership Public Policy Digital Marketing Design Thinking Operations Management Healthcare Finance others Data Science Data Science Others Technology CXO Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Product Management Degree Project Management PGDM healthcare MBA Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details 'It Was Almost Like the Casting Couch Was Trending' For Chawla, now 40, those early years were not just about auditions and ambition—they were about surviving a culture that made exploitation feel almost institutional. 'It was almost like the casting couch was trending,' she said bluntly, as quoted in her Sidharth Kanan interview . Each time she stood her ground, it cost her dearly. Offers disappeared. Roles slipped away. 'There was rejection every time I had the audacity to say no,' she added. 'It was crazy.' For a time, she considered disappearing entirely. 'I felt like I had hit the end of the road,' she shared. 'I would prefer to lie low and give up, because that just wasn't my thing.' MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT And yet, she didn't. From TV Darling to Cinematic Powerhouse Surveen's career began with popular television serials like Kahiin To Hoga and Kasautii Zindagii Kay, where her talent quickly made her a household name. But transitioning to cinema meant entering a space where talent alone wasn't always enough. Despite the setbacks, she carved out a distinctive space for herself in regional and Hindi cinema . From Punjabi blockbusters like Dharti and Taur Mittran Di to bold Bollywood choices such as Hate Story 2 and critically acclaimed performances in Parched and Ugly, Surveen proved she was here to stay—on her own terms. She has also worked across multiple languages including Tamil (Moondru Per Moondru Kadhal), Telugu (Itlu Prematho), and Kannada (Paramesha Panwala), displaying range and resilience in equal measure. Her web series work—from Sacred Games to Criminal Justice: A Family Matter and Rana Naidu—has further cemented her versatility, and her next release, Mandala Murders, is slated to premiere on Netflix on July 25, 2025.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Surveen Chawla reflects on dark phase in film industry while facing casting couch: 'It was just filthy, dirty to even step out...'
Surveen Chawla revealed the emotional challenges she faced due to the prevalent casting couch culture in the film industry. She recounted losing roles for refusing to compromise her values, leading to a period of disillusionment and self-doubt. The actress even contemplated leaving the industry altogether, feeling defeated by the constant pressure and rejections. Surveen Chawla has opened up about a troubling chapter in her career, shedding light on the emotional toll of navigating the casting couch culture in the film industry. In a heartfelt revelation, she spoke about the cost of standing her ground, the rejections that followed, and the inner turmoil that nearly made her walk away from it all. Toxic Culture and Doubts About Continuing In her conversation with Sidharth Kanan, the actress revealed that there was a point in her career when the casting couch culture was so rampant and unsettling that it made her question whether she wanted to continue in the industry at all. She described that phase as deeply disillusioning and emotionally exhausting. Losing Roles for Saying No The 40-year-old actor described that period as deeply demoralising, particularly because she began losing roles simply for refusing to compromise. Surveen shared that the casting couch culture seemed almost 'trendy' at the time, and each time she stood her ground, it cost her professional opportunities. She even admitted that the constant rejections and pressure eventually pushed her to an emotional breaking point. Feeling defeated, she began to question her place in the industry and contemplated stepping away altogether, believing it was better to lie low than continue in an environment that didn't align with her values. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Surprising Habit Tied to Dementia—Millions Do It Without Realizing Memory Health Click Here Undo Journey in showbiz Surveen began her acting journey on Indian television with popular shows like Kahiin To Hoga and Kasautii Zindagii Kay, quickly making a mark as a promising talent. She later transitioned to films through regional cinema, starring in Punjabi hits like Dharti and Taur Mittran Di. Her bold performance in Hate Story 2 (2014) brought her wider recognition, followed by critically acclaimed roles in films such as Parched.
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Surveen Chawla opens up about hitting her lowest while facing casting couch: 'It was dirty to even step out'
Actor Surveen Chawla has opened up about one of the darkest phases of her career, revealing the emotional toll the casting couch culture once took on her. In a candid reflection, Surveen recalled how toxic and disheartening the film industry felt at one point, especially when she chose to stand her ground and say "no" to inappropriate advances. Surveen Chawla talks about how refusing inappropriate advances led to losing projects and feelings of defeat. Surveen Chawla on hitting her lowest In an interview with Sidharth Kanan, Surveen said, 'There was a time when it was all about the casting couch. It was just filthy, dirty to even step out. I was like, you know what, I don't want to do this anymore." The 40-year-old star described that phase as deeply demoralising, especially as she began losing projects for refusing to compromise. 'It was almost like the casting couch was trending. Every time I would lose a part because I had the audacity to say no, to keep my ground in some way, shape or form. It was crazy.' Surveen admitted that repeated rejections and pressure pushed her to a breaking point, leaving her feeling defeated and questioning her place in the industry. She mentioned how she felt she had hit the end of the road and would prefer to lie low and give up because that wasn't her thing. Surveen Chawla's career Surveen Chawla began her acting journey in Indian television with shows like Kahiin To Hoga and Kasautii Zindagii Kay, quickly establishing herself as a promising talent. She transitioned into films with regional cinema, starring in Punjabi hits like Dharti and Taur Mittran Di. Surveen gained wider recognition with her bold performance in Hate Story 2 (2014), followed by critically acclaimed roles in films like Parched. She further showcased her versatility in digital series such as Sacred Games and Decoupled, earning praise for her nuanced portrayals. Surveen's latest Surveen Chawla appears in the web series Criminal Justice: A Family Matter and Rana Naidu, both released in 2025. She also stars in the upcoming crime thriller Mandala Murders alongside Vaani Kapoor, which premieres on Netflix on 25 July.
News18
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
They Ruled TV, Fell In Love, Then Drifted Apart: The Rajeev Khandelwal-Aamna Sharif Story
Ekta Kapoor's television drama Kahiin To Hoga was a turning point in Indian actor Rajeev Khandelwal's career. His portrayal of the brooding lead character, Sujal, made him a household name across India and marked a defining moment in both his professional and personal life. Rajeev Khandelwal starred opposite actress Aamna Sharif, and their on-screen chemistry drew significant praise. During the show's popular run, persistent rumours suggested that the two were dating, reportedly for about three to four years. While the role of Sujal brought Rajeev Khandelwal immense popularity, he found the sudden fame overwhelming. He eventually exited the show midway, stating in interviews that he no longer felt able to deliver the quality of work his audience deserved. He also decided never to take on a similar role again, despite receiving numerous film offers. Aamna Sharif continued with the series until its conclusion and later signed a film opposite Aftab Shivdasani, leading to speculation that the two, Aamna and Aftab, were dating. 5/6 In a 2008 interview with Hindustan Times, Rajeev Khandelwal confirmed that he no longer had any ties with Aamna Sharif and acknowledged that she was reportedly seeing someone else.
India Today
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Rajeev Khandelwal recalls quitting Kahiin Toh Hoga, choosing quality over money
Actor Rajeev Khandelwal recently spoke about how he was perceived to be egoistic after quitting Ekta Kapoor's 'Kahiin To Hoga' (2003-2005). He also opened up on the articles that claimed he had "locked horns" with Kapoor due to demanding more money for the in an interview with Screen, recalled when a lot of negative articles were written about him. He said, "People wrote things like, 'He has become too big for his boots', but nobody knew the truth. What came across was that I locked horns with Ektaa, that I was leaving her, and I must be thinking that I had arrived."advertisementThe actor further said, "I quit the show at its peak, refused the money, the popularity—so many thought I was egoistic. After I quit 'Left Right Left', I also knew I was not going to be offered much work on TV. I realised no producer would give me work." "I had a lot of fights with producers—nobody is happy when you walk out of a show that's doing well. When I was walking out of 'Kahiin To Hoga', I went to Shobha (Kapoor) aunty," Khandelwal went on."At that time, asking to leave a show was perceived as the actor wanting more money, which was also offered to me. They said they would increase my remuneration, and I said, reduce it—but give me quality," he actor's first collaboration with Kapoor was the Hindi thriller-anthology show-'Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat' (2003). He later became popular with 'Kahiin To Hoga' (2003-2005). Khandelwal also hosted the reality television series-'Sacch Ka Saamna' (2009) and its second season as well (2011). He made his Bollywood debut with Raj Kumar Gupta's 'Aamir' (2008).Khandelwal was last seen on the web show-'The Secret of the Shiledars' (2025). The mystery-thriller also featured Sai Tamhankar, Gaurav Amlani, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Dilip Prabhavalkar in pivotal show is available for streaming on JioHotstar.- EndsMust Watch
