Rakhi Sawant is the latest to add her two cents in the ongoing burning debate about Casting Couch in Bollywood. The model-turned-actress completely backed veteran choreographer Saroj Khan's statement on the same and shared that she also had to face casting couch when she was a struggler. She also added that casting couch exists in Bollywood, much like other industries but in the film industry, it's all voluntary as nobody rapes anyone. In fact, Rakhi went on to share that she's known girls who would actually throw themselves at producers just to get work in the industry, so the producers should not be blamed.
An IANS report quoted Rakhi as saying, "Nobody rapes anyone in this film industry. It’s all consensual and voluntary. In this, I fully support Saroj ji. At least she has spoken her mind and let the world know the truth. People in Bollywood don’t speak out the truth about the casting couch although it is happening right here in front of their eyes. They feel they are making their way up why should they bother with what’s happening around them? I really admire Sarojji for letting the world know the reality that they have to face every day. Saroj ji has seen what goes here. I totally agree with her.”
She further revealed, "Young girls are willing to make any compromise to get going in their career. Aaj kal to ladkiyan kehti hain, Kuch bhi kar lo, mujhe kaam de do’. Iss mein producer ki kya ghalti hai? (Girls, these days, are ready to do anything to get work. Why to blame producers for this?) Saroj ji is not wrong. A lot of girls come in the film industry to become heroines but become something else… you understand what I am saying? Call it destiny or what you will.”
She also advised strugglers to have faith in their talent and not to give in the the temptations of shortcuts. "I’ve seen so many girls throw themselves at producers. This is not good. I don’t want to take any names. Lekin aisa hota hai (But this happens). It shouldn’t be so. Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra are superstars because of their hard work and not for any other reason. The ones who take the shortcut end up on a different track altogether. Don’t do this to yourself. And don’t blame producers for taking what you have to offer," she was further quoted as saying.
Rakhi also gave her own example and shared that when she was a struggler, she also had to face casting couch but it was in the beginning of her career. She said that she didn't give in because she had talent and she learnt to say no.
