Sanaya Irani recounts casting couch experience from renowned Bollywood director: "you will have to wear....."

Sanaya Irani, beloved for her roles as Khushi in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon and Gunjan in Miley Jab Hum Tum, recently shared a distressing casting couch experience. Known for her candidness, Sanaya recounted how she has faced typecasting due to her physical appearance and rude behaviour from industry professionals over the years.

In a heartfelt interview, Sanaya revealed the challenges she encountered from childhood to her early acting career. When asked about her encounters with the casting couch, she narrated several incidents, shedding light on the darker side of the industry.

One such incident occurred in the South film industry. Sanaya recalled being pursued for a film role despite her reluctance to enter the film industry at that time. She reluctantly agreed to meet a representative from the South film industry. "A person from the South wanted to meet me for a film. I didn’t want to do films, but he was insistent. After the meeting, he said, 'We need a little fuller person.' I told him, 'Then I am not the fuller person.'"

Sanaya further elaborated on how this experience left her questioning the motives behind such meetings. "Often, it feels like people meet actresses just to gauge if they're the kind who would sleep with them."

Another disturbing encounter involved a well-known Bollywood director. Sanaya was contacted by the director's secretary, urging her to speak with the director regarding a music video. Despite her initial disinterest, she made the call. However, the director's rude behaviour left her stunned. "When I called him, he asked me to call back in half an hour. I called after 45 minutes, thinking it was courteous. He rudely asked me the time again and again. I started to feel his attitude and realized he was trying to belittle me."

The conversation took a turn when the director began discussing a new film. "He said, 'I am making a big film with many big heroes, and you will have to wear a bikini.' When I asked about my character, he rudely insisted on knowing if I was okay with wearing a bikini. I hung up on him," Sanaya concluded.

Sanaya's revelations highlight the grim realities many actresses face in the entertainment industry. Her courage in speaking out adds to the growing discourse on the need for respectful and professional treatment of actors, regardless of their status or background.