Isha Koppikar Recalls Horrifying Casting Couch Incident at 18, Says A-Lister Asked Her to Meet Alone (Watch Video)
Isha Koppikar revealed disturbing experiences in Bollywood's early years, including unwanted advances from an A-lister. Her bravery sparks a conversation about exploitation in the industry.
Isha Koppikar recently shed light on the harsh realities she faced during her early years in Bollywood. In a candid interview with Siddharth Kannan, she became emotional while recounting unpleasant experiences, including an instance where a well-established A-list actor pressured her to meet him alone. She bravely shared details about these incidents, sparking a crucial conversation about the exploitation and power imbalances that can exist within the entertainment world. Sanjeeda Shaikh Recalls Disturbing Incident of Being Groped By Girl at Nightclub; Heeramandi Star Says 'She Touched By Breast'.
During the candid conversation, Isha said, "One actor asked me to meet him alone, without my driver or anyone else, because there were rumours about him being involved with other actresses. He said, ‘There are already controversies about me, and the staff spreads rumours.’ But I refused him and told him that I couldn’t come alone. He was an A-list actor from the Hindi film industry. I must be around 22-23 years old that time.” Avika Gor Opens Up About Sexual Harassment Incident Involving Her Bodyguard in Kazakhstan; Balika Vadhu Actress Says ‘Someone Touched Me’.
Watch Isha Koppikar's Interview:
She didn't stop there, the actress added, "I was 18 when a secretary and an actor approached me for casting couch. They told me that to get work, you have to be ‘friendly' with actors. I am very friendly, but what does ‘friendly' mean? I am so friendly that Ekta Kapoor once told me to have some attitude.” She also added how many would touch her inappropriately and tell her to be friendly with the heroes in a sleazy manner."
Isha Koppikar debuted in Bollywood with Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan (1998) and starred in films like Fiza and Don. After marrying hotelier Timmy Narang in 2009, they had a daughter but divorced in 2024.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2024 12:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).