Couched in controversy

The quid pro quo system, often termed the casting couch syndrome, has been working in Bollywood for eons. With television coming of age in India, the phenomenon is making itself felt in the TV industry too, finds Vickey Lalwani. Bollywood has always been notorious for its big, bad wolves ready to bully aspiring babes in the business into bed with the lure of a meaty role. Whispered rumours also abound about increasingly ambitious starlets willing to shed more and more of their inhibitions to race ahead of their rivals in the industry. There have been newcomers to Bollywood who have buckled under, and quit the scene and there have been those who preferred to move to television, considered safer grounds thus far. Shama Sikander, the protagonist of Sony's Ye Meri Life Hai is one such. "I didn't know about it until I started my struggle. There is a big difference between looking at it from a distance and actually feeling it. But I've been lucky. My family was there with me all the time and I was not desperate to make it big. My parents always accompanied me to every producer's office. Maybe, that's why I didn't get too many films." The girl has minced her words alright, but we can read between the lines. The question now is: Is television really free from the casting couch? Sweta Keswani (Anu of Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand argues that Indian television offers a healthy working atmosphere. "A large number shows are produced by women. So the exploitation quotient is minimized," she says. She is also quick to defend her qualified statement, "It's not that I haven't heard of girls sleeping with those in authority, but they do it by choice. While some do it because they feel they remain in the good books of those who matter, many of those do it for fun. So it's not a case of 'you have to do it, else we won't chose you for a role'. It's not a casting couch per se." But Mauli Ganguly (Shaina of Kaahin Kissi Roz) whom a film producer wanted to see in a bikini to check whether she had any marks on her body, butts in with rage, "Excuse me! Times are changing. The industry is growing, and unfortunately, so is this evil. I get to hear several stories from struggling nymphets." Nausheen Ali Sardar (Kusum of Kkusum) too says she has heard about TV starlets being forced to offer sexual favours to get their first break. "The craze to become a known face in the glam industry drives them to this point," she shrugs. Shweta Kawaatra (Pallavi of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii) chips in, "I have always snubbed those who dared to make me compromise. There is this well-known TV producer who is into all this. He used to keep calling me regularly and discuss idhar-udhar ki baatein. Never did he ask me to sign on for his project. Later I learnt that he just wanted to gauge me ki karegi ya nahin karegi. One day, I blasted the hell out of him." What is the frank and fearless Jaya Bhattacharya's (Payal of Kyunki…) take on the wolves in the TV industry? "Wolves? Let me count. Hmmm… well, I have met just two wolves. One was, or is, a big time photographer who wanted to shoot my portfolio at a concession! And then there is this director who is well known for his extracurricular activities. Any girl will do for him! He offered me a serial. My boyfriend Rahim and I knew about his fetish. Rahim told me to do the serial, saying, "Go ahead. Just because we have these kind of people, you should not give away the opportunity. Handle him when it happens." And it happened, midway through the serial! I walked out. My character ended (laughs). All said and done, there are very few wolves in the TV industry than in films, I guess." So, a female character disappearing from the serial can signify her refusal to be part of the couch? "Yup," quips Jaya. Who is to be blamed? The women who say they want to struggle but actually want the fastest way to the top? "Of course," says Ganguly, clenching her fist, "There is the element of willingness here. Today's girls are not dumb. If some authority is inviting an aspirant to a hotel room, at an odd hour, it is obvious he is not going to discuss work. Why can't the greedy newcomers put their foot down? They are making it difficult not only for themselves but also for their seniors. If you give it to them so easily, why wouldn't they demand more?" Think of it, the petite lass is right. There is really nothing that the males, err, wolves can do if the females refuse, except not cast them, or, maybe malign and ridicule them publicly. Indian television cannot run without women. Underline this. The insecure feeling of 'If I don't do it, someone else will," needs to go. Then again, a woman who complains against this practice seldom gets sympathy or support from the industry, and is in fact open to criticism that she is just publicity-hungry. To add salt into her wounds, she is asked a barrage of embarrassing questions by the press and the law. Perhaps the midnight invitations have dwindled after a certain aspiring starlet maligned a certain director recently. We are interested not in knowing whether she was telling the truth, but rather in how this misuse of power can end. Any suggestions?