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Jun 17, 20261
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Bollywood Actresses Break Silence on Widespread Casting Couch Harassment
Several Bollywood and TV actresses have publicly disclosed their traumatic experiences with casting couch demands, highlighting systemic harassment and exploitation in the entertainment industry. The suicide of 22-year-old Sanjita Ugale, allegedly driven by harassment from casting agents, has amplified calls for industry reform. Actresses like Anchal Khurana, Lavina Tandon, and Divyanka Tripathi have shared similar stories of being pressured to compromise sexually for roles, with many stating they faced threatening and humiliating conditions.
Quick Facts
Who
Sanjita Ugale
What
opened up about casting couch experiences
When
2026-06-17
Where
Bollywood
- opened up about casting couch experiences
- committed suicide amid harassment
- faced demands to compromise sexually for roles
- were pressured to sleep with directors or heroes
- received explicit emails with conditions
Multiple Bollywood and television actresses have come forward to share harrowing experiences of casting couch demands, revealing a systemic pattern of exploitation within the entertainment industry. The recent suicide of 22-year-old TV actress Sanjita Ugale, who was allegedly harassed by casting agents according to her brother, has intensified calls for reform and better mental health support.
Actresses including Anchal Khurana, Lavina Tandon, and Divyanka Tripathi have described being pressured to compromise sexually for roles. Khurana stated that if an actress refuses to sleep with someone, she is replaced. Tandon recounted how a casting director offered her a role in a South Indian film, initially proposing a budget of 5 lakh rupees, but raised it to 7 lakh if she agreed to "compromise."
Barkha Singh shared an email demanding specific body measurements and stating that "compromise" would be required. Divyanka Tripathi recalled being told she would need to "stay with the director" for a big break, with the implication that everyone was doing it. Jasmin Bhasin described a frightening audition where a director drank alcohol, the coordinator left the room, and the director tried to cross boundaries during the scene.
Other actresses such as Madalsa Sharma, Kishwar Merchant, Sneha Jain, and Aradhana Sharma also disclosed incidents of inappropriate advances and demands. Sharma mentioned walking out of meetings where she felt uncomfortable, while Merchant rejected a request to sleep with a hero and left immediately. Aradhana Sharma recounted being inappropriately touched during a script reading in Ranchi, prompting her to push the man away and flee.
These revelations have sparked widespread discussion about the casting couch culture, exploitation, and the immense pressure faced by actresses in the industry. The collective voices are demanding reform, better support systems, and accountability for perpetrators to protect aspiring talent from such predatory practices.
Why This Matters
This wave of public disclosures from established and emerging actresses serves as a critical moment for the Indian entertainment industry. It provides direct, credible evidence of systematic sexual coercion, which can pressure studios, casting agencies, and industry bodies to implement enforceable anti-harassment policies. For aspiring talents and their families, understanding these risks is the first step toward safety; for talent managers and producers, it signals an urgent need for transparent casting processes and mandatory reporting mechanisms.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 17, 2026
WireActresses including Anchal Khurana, Lavina Tandon, and others share accounts of sexual harassment in the industry
Jun 17, 2026
WireABP News publishes article detailing multiple actresses' casting couch experiences