In one bizarre statement, celebrated choreographer Saroj Khan has not only accepted the existence of casting couch in the industry but has also ‘defended’ it. Answering a question about her views on actress Sri Reddy’s ongoing protest against casting couch in the Telugu film industry, Saroj Khan said that the practice (of casting couch) is ‘nothing new’ and has been there since the times of ‘Baba Adam’.
She further added, “Someone or the other always try to take an advantage of a girl. The government does it too, then why are we only behind the film industry? It provides livelihood at least. Does not rape and leave you. It is up to the girl, what she wants to do. If you don’t want to fall into wrong hands, you won’t. If you have talent, you will not have to sell your body. Don’t take the film industry’s name, it is everything to us.”
According to a News 18 report, Khan has since apologized for her comments.
Saroj Khan, who is arguably one of the most successful female choreographers the Hindi film industry has seen, further propagated victim-blaming, saying that it is ultimately the girl’s decision to either accept or deny such advances.
