‘Men also face casting couch’

Back in 2015, when Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh revealed that a director had asked for sexual favours in return for film offers, that the actor outrightly rejected, it raised a few eyebrows. Given that several actresses have trodden this shoddy path and had to ‘compromise’ to climb the ladder of fame and success, such a revelation coming from a male actor opened up a new debate that men too face the evil of casting couch.

Now closer to home, Malayalam actor, theatre director and artiste

Navajit Narayanan

, who had essayed character roles in Ennu Ninte Moideen and Aami, managed to bare his soul on social media about a recent incident allegedly involving a prominent filmmaker from the Malayalam film industry. The post on his social networking page soon became a talking point.

The young actor, who has been grooming new actors in Tamil and Malayalam films, the latest being an Asif Ali-starrer, talks to Kochi Times about what happened and throws a few important questions about the longevity of actors in the industry.

Explaining what happened, he says, “I have known the director and his family quite well for about three to four years, but this was a first. I went to his house and we had a casual conversation about life, work and the like. After talking for a while, he said there is no one at home to make tea for the two of us, and went inside to get a glass of water. When he came back, rather than sitting opposite me, he sat next to me.”

What came next was unexpected, according to him. “The director said he can give me a role in a film, but asked how will he benefit from it? I had no clue what he was hinting at, until his hand reached out to my crotch. I said I am not interested in such an offer and asked him to take his hand off right away. When he did not listen, I pushed him and he almost fell. Then I gave him two tight slaps and closed the door on him and his offer.”

After he put up the social media post, people have been asking why he did not lodge a police complaint or reveal the director’s identity. He says, “When you meet a friend or someone you have known for a while, not even in your wildest dreams are you expecting such a thing to happen. You are not in a mental frame to record the video or gather proof. So, even if I proceed legally, I might end up with no proof, with only my verbal account to back me up. About revealing his name, I am afraid his wife, who is quite vulnerable and has always talked to me with compassion, will take an extreme step after finding out that it was her husband who I am talking about.”

While women’s issues and concerns in the industry have been the topic of discussion for a long time, this incident was truly an eye-opener for him, he says. “Male actors too go through similar struggles, when it comes to getting an opportunity. Casting couch does exist for men in the industry. What has surprised me is the tremendous support that has been coming my way. I did not post it to seek attention and I definitely didn’t expect that this would be talked about. All I thought of doing was to document my experience. Most importantly, my Facebook messenger has been flooded with messages from aspiring or struggling actors, who have opened up and told me, ‘Chetta enikkum ingane undayittundu (this has happened to me too)’. It was at that moment, I realised the magnitude of the issue among men, in particular.”

Navajit says he finds it unfortunate that many might have succumbed to the pressure and agreed to the same or suppressed this anguish within, thinking that they would lose out on film offers.

That said, he also says that just because of instances like this from a few people like the director, the entire film industry cannot be bracketed in the same category. “I am not disrespecting or insulting the filmmaker’s sexual orientation either. I completely understand it, but it shouldn’t be forced. If this happens between two consenting individuals, there is no harm in it. However, denying someone an opportunity because of this or promising a film in return for sexual favours should not be encouraged, be it male or female. Talent is then pushed to the backseat.”

According to him, when compared to women’s issues, when a man discloses about sexual harassment or such uneasy experiences, he is often laughed at by people as they make it look trivial. “Many teased me saying, ‘Nee peedikkapettu ale (you were molested, no)?’, which is disappointing, as it comes from men themselves. Experiences of men are equally traumatic and are not in any way to be looked down upon as less serious,” Navajith says.

The actor, who will be seen in Mammootty’s Maamaankam and Lilli, says, “Through my post, I wanted to draw attention to the fact that men too face similar issues and it needs to be discussed.”