Did Vivek Agnihotri's nephew, mentioned in shocking tweet, act in I Hate Luv Storys?
It is ironic that time and again, people from the entertainment biz have spoken about the demon of casting couch but have never had the courage to name the perpetrators
Harvey Casting couch is commonplace throughout the world. But the Harvey Weinsteins and Kevin Spaceys of Bollywood can heave a sigh of relief as long as the moderately powerful in Bollywood are afraid of speaking up. Vivek Agnihotri, who has made films like Chocolate, Buddha In A Traffic Jam and Hate Story among others, sent Twitteratti into a tizzy as soon as he posted this: “One of my nephews came from US to try his luck in Bollywood. Introduced him to the middleman of India’s top star & Producer/director. He was promptly invited where he was propositioned, molested & sexually exploited by the most powerful. Left India forever. Many stories like this. (sic)”
Agnihotri’s tweet, of course, was followed by an online guessing game. However, upon questioning further, the director refused to disclose any details or name and shame anyone, stating that the post was meant in “some other context”.
Even as we wonder what this other context was, it is worth recalling that one of Agnihotri’s nephews, who came from the US, acted in a Karan Johar production called I Hate Luv Storys, starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor. The name of the actor features prominently on IMDB as well.
Similarly, on the lines of sexual exploitation, very recently, it was a case of mentor-turning-tormentor when a video featuring singer Papon kissing a minor girl on a reality show went viral. Surprisingly, the girl later denied that there was no foul intent coming from the musician. A noted music director even told this young girl: “If you want to be a solo singer, pehle so-lo... then be a singer!” That’s how crude the couch can get even in the case of minors.
Sadly, closer home, allegations and instances of the casting couch have been much higher, especially in Tollywood and Kollywood.
Notably, Ileana D’Cruz, who was earlier working profusely in the southern industries, is now only working in Bollywood. Ask her why no stars are named for such deeds, and she says that the larger-than-life image of the biggies prevents the general public from believing what a victim claims.
“I think India is a country where, to some extent, a lot of actors are worshipped. So if you have such a massive image, it is not easy to shatter it. The fans just cannot imagine that person in a different light. One would be like ‘no, I don’t believe this’... there is something wrong with the girl or boy (victim). It’s then easier to point at no one than to point at someone who is powerful,” feels the actress.
Ileana may just be right because even back in 2004, when a woman named Preeti Jain pointed fingers at filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, accusing him of rape, the case was simply quashed. In order to lend credence to a victim’s claim, the system would need solid proof. In most cases, there is no proof available.
Moreover, in the case of aspiring stars, Ileana feels, “More than a career, you need so much support. Since there have been so many similar cases that have just died in the past, people probably think that no one is going to support them either.”
— With inputs from Uma Ramasubramanian and Sanskriti Media
