After Bollywood celebrities opening up about the hanging issue of casting couch in the glamour world, evergreen actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha came forward to put out his opinion. The man revealed that sexual favours are demanded as well as given in both entertainment as well as political world.
"Neither Saroj Khan nor Renuka Chowdhary is wrong. Sexual favours are demanded and given in both the entertainment world and in politics. It's an old and time-tested way of getting ahead in life. 'You please me I'll please you'.
"This has been happening since time immemorial. What is there to get so upset about," Sinha said.
Defending Khan, he said: "Saroj Khan's contribution to choreography and to shaping the careers of Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and the late much-missed Sridevi, was invaluable. Saroj Khan is a legend in her own right.
"She often speaks from her heart and lets emotional correctness rule over political correctness. If she said that girls have to compromise sexually in Bollywood, she must be aware of what goes on."
Sinha himself does not deny the existence of the casting couch.
Shatrughan Sinha comments on casting couch, reveals it exists in entertainment and politics
"As for politics, I don't know what we can call the casting couch in politics maybe the casting-vote couch. Of course the young aspiring brigade is known to offer sexual favours and of course the senior brigade is known to accept.
"I am not saying it is right. I would never be part of such a compromise. But we cannot shut our eyes to the reality around us. Don't condemn Sarojji for speaking the truth.
"Condemn those who create a situation where girls and boys feel they have to compromise to get ahead in life."
However, Sinha is quick to point out -- like Khan -- that the casting couch is a personal choice.
"What happens on the couch or wherever two people come together, is a matter of personal choice. No one is forcing any girl or boy to lie down on the couch. You have something to give and you are offering it to someone who is interested. Where is the coercion or compulsion.?
(With IANS inputs)
