Isha Koppikar, who made her Bollywood debut with Fiza after working in multiple South films, has opened up about a horrific casting couch experience at the age of 18. Besides starring in films such as Darna Mana Hai, Pinjar, LOC Kargil, Krishna Cottage, and Don among others, Isha was a part of special dance numbers like “Ishq Samundar” from Kaante and “Khallas” from Company.

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Isha got teary-eyed while discussing her casting couch experience during her early days in the industry. “It was never about what you can do. Heroes and actors used to decide. You have heard about #MeToo, and if you had values, it was very difficult. Many actresses left the industry during my time. Either the girls gave in or they gave up. There are very few who are still in the industry and haven’t given up, and I am one of them,” she said.

Recalling the experience, Isha said, “I was 18 when a secretary and an actor approached me for casting couch. They told me that to get work, you have to be ‘friendly’ with actors. I am very friendly, but what does ‘friendly’ mean? I am so friendly that Ekta Kapoor once told me to have some attitude.”

Isha Koppikar also recounted an incident when an A-list actor asked her to meet him alone. “When I was 23, one actor asked me to meet him alone, without my driver or anyone else, because there were rumours about him being involved with other actresses. He said, ‘There are already controversies about me, and the staff spreads rumours.’ But I refused and told him that I couldn’t come alone. He was an A-list actor from the Hindi film industry.”

Isha also recalled the times when secretaries of actors and directors would touch her “inappropriately”. “They wouldn’t just come and touch you inappropriately; they would squeeze your arm and say, ‘Heroes ke sath bahut dosti karni padegi (You will have to be very friendly with the actors),’ in a sleazy way,” she added.