Anu Aggarwal Opens Up About Casting Couch In Bollywood: 'Why Are We Pretending?'
Aashiqui actress Anu Aggarwal addresses the casting couch issue in Bollywood, calling out the silence around it. She also reflected on her own experiences in the industry.
Actress Anu Aggarwal, best known for her role in the 1990 cult classic Aashiqui, recently made a candid statement about the casting couch issue in Bollywood. In an interaction with Pinkvilla, the 90s star openly addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the subject, often considered taboo or brushed under the carpet in the Hindi film industry.
While the topic of the casting couch remains controversial, often met with denial or vague acknowledgment, Anu questioned the prevailing silence and societal denial around it. “Why are we pretending?” she asked, challenging the reluctance to confront the issue head-on.
Anu Aggarwal on casting couch in Bollywood
Reflecting on her own career, Anu stated that she maintained professional yet cordial relationships with her directors, including Aashiqui director Mahesh Bhatt. She clarified, “There was no hanky-panky,” and affirmed that she was never subjected to any casting couch situation herself.
However, she acknowledged the broader scope of the issue beyond the film industry. “Kahan nahi hai casting couch?” she asked rhetorically, pointing out that similar dynamics exist in corporate spaces, including banks and offices. “Kya baat kar rahe ho aap? Why are we pretending? Everywhere there’s casting couch. Since life has started, there’s man and woman, and there are two energies, male and female — their union is something that everybody wants. That’s the entire history of Earth,” she explained.
Anu also addressed the moral discourse surrounding the topic, suggesting that the real issue lies in wasted potential rather than the existence of such exchanges. “So, what is ‘yeh bura hai’? Kya bura hai? When you don’t use your potential, that is bura. What’s the big deal being made about the casting couch?” she said.
In the same interview, the actress also shared her thoughts on Aashiqui 2, the 2013 spiritual sequel starring Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. She admitted to watching the film, commenting, “Nice, nice... I didn’t want to judge it.”
About Aashiqui
Released in 1990, Aashiqui became a major box office success and remains one of Bollywood’s most iconic romantic musicals. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Gulshan Kumar under T-Series along with Vishesh Films, it featured newcomers Anu Aggarwal and Rahul Roy. The film’s simple story resonated with audiences, bolstered by its memorable soundtrack composed by Nadeem-Shravan. Songs like “Dheere Dheere Se” and “Nazar Ke Saamne” became instant classics and continue to be widely loved.
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