Shocking: Choreographer Saroj Khan defends casting couch in Bollywood

The #MeToo and #Time’sUp movement has taken the West by storm. Hollywood celebrities are opening up on the subject with a vengeance. But Bollywood has maintained a silence over the matter, though a number of big wigs have admitted it to its existence, others have outrightly denied it.

Recently we had veteran choreographer Saroj Khan making a shocking statement on the existence of casting couch in the film industry. The three time National Award winner accepted its existence only to defend it. She said it has been a part of the government and not just the film industry.

As per ANI, Saroj Khan said, ” It depends on the girl, if she wants to be on the ‘casting couch’ or not. Why would you want to sell yourself if you are confident about your talent? Don’t blame the film industry, woh humara mai baap.” (Also Read: “I’m so happy and proud”, Saroj Khan finally breaks silence over Jacqueline’s ‘Ek Do Teen’ )

Veteran Choreographer Saroj Khan gave a bizarre justification of prevailing casting couch situation in the film industry, claiming that 'casting couch at least provides livelihood' pic.twitter.com/Gh0FguJJ0s

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 24, 2018

Yeh ladki ke upar hai ki tum kya karna chahti ho. Tum uske haath mein nahi aana chahti ho toh nahi aaogi. Tumhare paas art hai toh tum kyun bechoge apne aap ko? Film industry ko kuch mat kehna, woh humaara mai-baap hai: Saroj Khan on Casting Couch. pic.twitter.com/kYpPAPWMtB

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2018

She further added, “This is happening from a long time. It happens in the government as well and not just only in the film industry. Woh kam se kam roti toh deti hai. Rape karke chhod toh nahi deti.”

Yeh chala aa raha hai Baba azam ke zamaane se. Har ladki ke upar koi na koi haath saaf karne ki koshish karta hai. Govt ke log bhi karte hain. Tum film industry ke peeche kyun pade ho? Woh kam se kam roti toh deti hai. Rape karke chhod toh nahi deti: Saroj Khan on Casting Couch. pic.twitter.com/xvHxSbvhzg

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2018

Several Bollywood celebrities have openly spoken about the perils of the casting couch. Earlier Ileana D’Cruz had opened up about why not many speak up against it. She is of a view that many fear opening up on the subject, as it will mark the end of their careers. In a previous interview with the Hindustan Times, Richa Chadha had stated that we will lose a lot of heroes when B-Town opens up on sexual harassment. She further added that the victims of casting couch often don’t name their violators for the fear of losing work.

Saroj Khan has choreographed Bollywood celebrities such as Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor among others.