Zareen Khan to Chitrangada Singh: Actresses who faced sexual harassment in film industry

Sexual abuse is an extremely destructive and personal crime. Its effects on you and your loved ones can be psychologically and emotionally devastating. Several Bollywood celebrities have faced sexual exploitation and decided to speak about it in public, reaching out to those who might have been going through it, or have been through the same ordeal.

Zareen Khan has been out and about promoting her latest release Aksar 2 that hit screens on Friday last week. However, just after the film’s opening weekend in theatres, reports have surfaced of Zareen having almost been molested. Apart from this certain other reports too surfaced wherein the makers of the film termed Zareen as an ‘unprofessional’ actress.

Mamta Kulkarni faced sexual harrassment during the filming of China Gate. Director Rajkumar Santoshi apparently asked her for sexual favours, Mamta Kulkarni had alleged. The yesteryear actress also accused Santoshi of chopping her role in the film.

Kangana Ranaut spoke her heart out at the launch of journalist Barkha Dutt's book, 'This Unquiet Land'. The bold actor spoke about the time when she was physically abused and hit by a certain someone from the industry, who she didn't name, in her early days.

When Chitrangda Singh walked out of director Kushan Nandy's Babumoshai Bandookbaaz starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the film was left in a lurch. Chitrangda alleged that Nandy's remarks during the shoot of the film made her walk out of it. Nandy, Singh alleged, said, "Tange ragdo and sex karo," while directing her in an intimate scene with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Bidita Bag was later cast for the role that Chitrangda was supposed to have played.

Swara Bhaskar revealed that during her early days as an actor, a director of her project used to harass her by sending text and messages adding that she has lost many projects because she was not ready for sexual favours.

Kalki Koechlin admitted to the existence of the casting couch in Bollywood, although she added that 'compromising' would be of no help to an aspiring actor with no talent. Talking about her own experience, she said in an interview, "Of course, it exists! It did try and entangle me in its grip but I am slippery, I always managed to get out of it. The minute I felt uncomfortable, I walked away!"