It’s power dynamics, not individual choice: Women reject Chiranjeevi’s casting couch logicDebate around the hypocrisy of chiru’s remarks heats up

Tollywood’s casting couch debate has been reignited after the Megastar suggested such practices disappear when individuals remain “strict and professional.” The comments, made while encouraging new talent, drew swift responses from women who shifted the spotlight to power, privilege and the silence forced on survivors. Chiranjeevi: There’s no such thing as a ‘casting couch’ or anything like that. It depends on your behaviour. You shouldn’t have any insecurity about how things might be. Be professional, and others will be professional too. This industry is like a mirror; what you give is what you get back. So, for anyone who wants to enter this industry with courage, come with determination, strong resolve, and hard work as your support. This is a great industry… Everyone will thrive, whether they are girls or boys. If someone hasn’t thrived here or says there are negative people or they’ve had a bitter experience, I strongly believe it’s their own fault. If you are strict and serious, no one will try to take advantage of you. ‘I beg to differ... Power dynamics compel women to either give in or remain silent’Annaiya, with all due respect, I beg to differ on your opinion about sexual harassment in Tollywood. Every film industry has it in some form or other, and our industry is not an exception. Young female aspirants coming from non-filmy families go through very unpleasant situations. Power dynamics compel them to either give in or remain silent. To put the entire blame on the woman and say if you are strict it will not happen is easier said than done. A large number of them will not even speak up for fear of being thrown out forever and never getting an opportunity. More than women being strict, if men can change their attitude and not take advantage of vulnerable women, it will be good.— Sunitha Krishnan, social activist on X ‘Men believing they are owed sex in return for giving work are the problem’Casting couch is rampant, women are refused roles if they don’t offer ‘full commitment’ — a word that means completely different in the film industry. Men remain in positions where they believe they are entitled to, and WILL demand and expect sexual favours from women. The abuse and sexual harassment of girls is a rampant issue. So, no — the industry is not a mirror that reflects who you are. I didn’t get molested because I was asking for it. I was barely out of my teens… Having a parent around also changes nothing with men like this. Men believing they are OWED sex in return for giving work are the problem.— Chinmayi Sripaada, singer and voice actress I have been working in the Telugu film industry for over 20 years, and even today, I continue to face casting couch-related issues. To make a statement like this (Chiranjeevi’s), from a position of such stature, requires a great deal of privilege and, frankly, a lack of empathy. I am a storyteller, a writer and a director, yet even now, instead of being able to focus fully on exploring my craft, I find myself constantly trying to protect myself—trying not to be exploited. This is not about individual choices alone. When someone speaks only from their own position of power, they fail to acknowledge how different the experience is for those without backing or privilege.— Gayathri Gupta, actor-directorUnpacking the misogyny of Chiranjeevi’s commentsTestimonies of casting couch When ‘compromise’ is introduced earlyI have been very fortunate with regard to all the offers that I have received. In the film industry, there was this one agent who had called me for a Telugu film when I was 19 or 20 years old. She said, ‘You know, you will have to make compromises.’ I was trying to test her, because it was a woman saying it to another woman. I felt that deeply. So I said, ‘Ma’am, I’m not understanding what you are saying.’ I kept repeating that. And then finally she said, ‘See, you have to understand.’ So I said, ‘I’m sorry that you feel that I’m someone who needs to go down this route. There are certain limits that I have never crossed in my life.’ So yes, I have experienced it once, but it was just that one time when a woman actually asked me this.— Saiyami Kher in an interview last year ‘I thought he was asking discount on my fees’One call came years ago. He said, ‘You want to do South films?’ I said, ‘I have already done a couple, but yes.’ He said, ‘There is one very good film, starring a very big good actor and the director is also very big.’ He told me that I had to play an actor’s sister and that it’s a big role. I was like, ‘That’s great.’ He then said that a first-time producer is bankrolling the project. I thought he was asking discount on my fees, but he said, ‘It’s a first-time producer, so little compromise is needed.’ I said, ‘Sorry.’ He repeated it. I told him do you even know who you are talking to. I have been in the industry for so many years but he said, ‘Director-actor thing is established but because the producer is new, that’s why it’s only required one time.’ I told him you got the wrong person and the wrong number.— Suchitra Pillai in a 2024 interview ‘An actor called me and tried to get flirtatious’I think once an actor in the South called me on my room phone and tried to get flirtatious and I just was so rude to him. I think he fought with me later on. But anyway, I haven’t ever got a request saying that you have to sleep with us.” Radhika Apte continued, “Oh, once I got a call, and they said, ‘they’re doing this film in Bollywood, and I want you to have a meeting with them. But would you be okay sleeping with that person?’ And I laughed! I said you’re so funny, you’re very funny, and I said no I’m not. Ask him to go to hell.— Radhika Apte in a 2016 interview I accept that it (casting couch) exists in Telugu movies. I’ve always been honest and forthright. The actress must choose between the easy path and less popularity, and the tougher road and a long career in the entertainment industry.– Anushka Shetty during the promotions of Nishabdam (2020) - Inputs by Shrestha Mukherjee