Actress Richa Chadha spoke out recently on the casting couch in Hindi cinema. She told the website FirstPost.com that she was once asked to go on a date with a married actor and when she refused was advised to date a cricketer.
During an interview with a news agency, when asked to name and shame those who tried to exploit her, Chadha said, “If you give me pension for life, take care of my safety, my family, ensure I'll continue to get work in films and TV or whatever I want to do, my career will grow unabated as it is right now after I name and shame somebody, sure I will. Not just me, million others will do that. But who will do it?”
She said the media should name these culprits. “Every time someone speaks, there are repercussions. Whoever is speaking out, people are like ‘Oh, you've to name and shame.’ If the press knows who is doing this, why not let it out? Every time we take a step, there is a backlash. The ecosystem and the structure of the industry need to change. We don't have royalties here for actors. In the absence of proper legislation, who will take a risk?” she added.
Chada’s latest film Fukrey Returns (2017) hit the theatres yesterday and has had a positive collection at the box office.