Richa Chadha defends Saroj Khan, Kamal Haasan wants women to 'kick out' casting couch

Telugu actress Sri Reddy has brought the evil of casting couch back in the limelight. Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan created a stir with her controversial comments on the casting couch in the Hindi film industry. While commenting on the casting couch, the veteran choreographer had said that "the film industry atleast doesn't rape and dump you".

When actor Ranbir Kapoor was asked about Khan's comment, he simply said, "I don't know. I have never faced casting couch."

Actress Richa Chadha, who has spoken about the casting couch earlier without naming anyone, came to the defence of Khan.

"I think people are making a mountain out of a molehill. There's a narrative that people in Bollywood are the worst and indulge in malpractices which isn't the case. She meant to say it takes place in all industries, why is Bollywood being singled out?" Chadha said.

Meanwhile, south superstar Kamal Haasan called for the evil to be eliminated from the industry.

“This isn't the place to discuss the casting couch. We're forming a new Tamil Nadu here. It's irrelevant. But considering I'm from the film industry, every woman has the right to kick away that couch. No woman should speak in its favour," said the actor-turned-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president at an event in Chennai.

Former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) member Ashoke Pandit, though, was critcial of Khan’s comments.

"I didn’t expect such derogatory & uncalled for statements from a veteran like #SarojKhan and totally condemn it. Our #EntertaimentIndustry, like all other industries respects women. #Exploitation of women is a crime and should be fought in all spheres of life," tweeted Pandit.