Sudhanshu Pandey, the actor best known for his role as Vanraj Shah in the popular television show "Anupamaa," has recently shared his experiences with the casting couch in the film industry. In a recent interview with Galatta India, Pandey revealed that he was once offered a role in exchange for a compromise by a renowned filmmaker, who is now deceased.
Pandey recounted the incident, stating that the filmmaker, whom he considers to be one of the greatest, proposed a "barter" for the role. He clarified that he doesn't hold any grudges against the filmmaker, viewing it as a proposition that he was free to accept or decline. Pandey emphasized that he has always been someone who values his self-respect and principles. He asserted that he never worked to feed anyone's ego and politely refused any offers that made him uncomfortable.
In his statement, Pandey conveyed a firm stance against any form of disrespect or coercion. While he acknowledged that people are free to be who they are, he drew a line at being forced into anything against his will. He stated that he would be prepared to stand up for himself if anyone misbehaved, suggesting a zero-tolerance approach to harassment.
This isn't the first time Pandey has spoken about the darker aspects of the entertainment industry. In a past conversation with SCREEN, he criticized the younger generation for what he perceived as an abusive attitude and expressed his aversion to disrespect in any form. He has also been candid about turning down lead roles in big projects because he didn't want to compromise his values or "bow his head in front of anyone for the wrong reasons," as he stated in an interview with ETimes TV in May 2023.
Pandey has also spoken about a traumatic childhood experience where he was molested by a doctor at the age of 12. He shared that the incident occurred at a family wedding when a doctor invited him to his room and made inappropriate advances. Pandey managed to push the doctor away and confided in his mother about the ordeal. He believes that this experience made him stronger and helped him navigate similar situations later in life, giving him the courage to reject any demands for compromise in his professional career.
Sudhanshu Pandey began his career as a model in the early 1990s. He debuted on television with the show "Kanyadaan" in 1998 and made his film debut as a co-lead with Akshay Kumar in "Khiladi 420." He was also a member of India's first music band, "A Band of Boys," before leaving in 2005 to focus on financial stability.
