Kalki Koechlin recently shared her experiences with the casting couch in the film industry, recounting two instances of harassment. In a conversation with Zoom, she revealed the subtle and sometimes overt forms of sexual harassment that persist in the film industry. Koechlin explained how these encounters, often ignored or normalized, can leave a lasting psychological impact.
One incident occurred at the Cannes Film Festival when she was a student in London working as a promo girl for Nokia phones. An Indian producer, who knew someone connected to her mother, invited her to his film screening. Later, he asked her out to dinner and when she inquired about work opportunities, he made it clear that she had to "be with him" for that to happen. Koechlin declined his advances.
The second incident took place in Mumbai during an audition for a film. The producer stated he needed to "get to know her" because it was a big launch, implying she would need to go out with him. Kalki refused this proposition as well, stating that she didn't want to waste his time or hers.
Koechlin's revelations shed light on the dark reality of the Hindi film industry, particularly the prevalence of the casting couch. Many actors have shared similar experiences, especially after the rise of the MeToo movement in 2018. Koechlin chose not to name the individuals involved in these incidents.
Kalki Koechlin has been recognized for her bold and brave choices in the Hindi film industry over the last 17 years. Her fearlessness is evident not only in her film roles but also in her interviews.
In other news, Kalki Koechlin was recently appointed as a brand ambassador for Karan Johar's jewelry brand, Tyaani, joining Shefali Shah, Tilottama Shome, Rasika Dugal, Jiya Shankar, and Shweta Tripathi. Kalki Koechlin was last seen in the Tamil romantic action thriller Nesippaya, directed by Vishnuvardhan.
