Casting [C]ouch

Individually, casting (i.e. cast) means shed or throw and couch means settee or divan. But when clubbed together, they have an altogether different meaning. As per Wikipedia, the casting couch is a euphemism for a widely recognized sociological phenomenon that involves the trading of sexual favours by an aspirant, apprentice, employee, or subordinate to a superior, in return for entry into an occupation or otherwise for career advancement within an organization. The term casting couch seems to be making it to the gossip columns more often than ever, not just in our city but also all over the globe. It is popular as ‘hard audition’ in the West.

In the world of silver screen, whenever casting couch cases have been exposed by the media they were termed as sex scandals. And when the term sex scandal comes in who would not remember the Shakti Kapoor and the Aman Verma cases which were popular as ‘Sting Operations’. But they sublimed as easily as they gained popularity. Also, news about some renowned actor of Bollywood claiming that many leading actresses have slept with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and many other directors sent waves of fury in the entire industry following the claim by various personalities that all this was just a part of gaining popularity and was termed ‘sleazy’ by Mr. Mahesh Bhatt. But one must note the fact that casting couches aren’t just restricted to the female strugglers. It also is an integral element of their male counterparts. The Madhur Bhandarkar flicks Page 3 and Corporate show the various dimensions to casting couches in the film and the corporate world respectively.

But is it really important to go through this phase in order to gain the stardom or money? I believe those individuals who aren’t confident on their abilities and lack the will power fall prey to such couches. It is indeed pathetic to see that a better candidate loses the designation s/he deserves just because of the existence of casting couch in the allotment procedure. I don’t think that casting couch has spared any walk of life today. Shekhar Suman once quoted, “The Casting couch - willing to raise the skirt or saree, gets unexpected offers or unexpected breaks in Bollywood”.

Now if I write more on it, I am sure all you guys reading this would say I am being a little too bold towards this issue and not favouring the topic at all. But seriously, I don’t really support the very phenomena of Casting [C]ouch and would term those people who succeeded because of it as complete ‘losers’.

Writing Credits: Aaishwari Chouhan
Editing Credits: Piyush Singh