The sleazy presence of the casting couch in Bollywood is really an open secret. And with the Harvey Weinstein controversy having thrown the lid off sexual harassment in the entertainment business, there’s again a focus on its presence in the Hindi film fraternity too.
The media therefore makes it a point to ask this question of stars. But it took a rather strange turn when the question was posed to Irrfan Khan. He would not be someone you would normally associate with being the subject of such a phenomenon but his answer was surprising. He said that he had been asked to compromise in return for work and that it had happened not once, but many times.
Often, such unwelcome suggestions came in the form of hints but he said that explicit propositions also were made. And what is more, he said both men and women did this. However, he said, the power to say no rested with him. He also said that sexual oppression is a disease and predators must be exposed. After becoming successful, Irrfan stopped being the recipient of such advances and that illustrates how sexual exploitation in the film industry is essentially a power play; a transaction between those who wield it and those who can be exploited because of a need to find a footing in the industry.
OPEN SECRET: The veteran actor says sexual exploitation is like a transaction in the film industry.