Bollywood and the Casting Couch

[JenniferJanu]

So who's next? Dev Anand anyone? 



from ABC News Online

Last Update: Monday, March 14, 2005. 10:25am (AEDT)

Network snares actor in Bollywood sex sting

A private television network in India has broadcast footage of a sting operation showing a popular Bollywood actor demanding sex from a reporter who posed as an aspiring actress.

The India TV program sparked uproar in India's entertainment industry with film-makers demanding action against the actor, Shakti Kapoor, who was trapped by a New Delhi-based female journalist.

Kapoor was seen apologising on camera when it became apparent to him that he was snared by journalists in a Bombay hotel.

The TV station said the exercise was part of an expose on what it called the sexual exploitation of female debutantes in Bollywood and not a campaign to smear Kapoor, who has starred in scores of commercial films.

"If you are with Shakti Kapoor, no one can touch you ... if you are tired I will give you a massage," the actor said on camera. He was later recorded demanding sex from the reporter.

Kapoor, who campaigned for India's ruling Congress party during last year's national elections, also named Bollywood's three top actresses and said they had offered sex to producers to grab leading roles in movies which became box office hits.

Shubash Ghai, one of the producers named by Kapoor, called for action against the actor and said Kapoor's conduct dealt a stunning blow to the industry, which produces about 300 films a year.

The television station later interviewed a number of aspiring actresses with at least two of them pointing fingers at known film-makers, saying they too had made similar demands from them.

Kapoor, who made his first film in 1982, said later he had been framed.

-AFP

[Meredith]

SHAKTI HAS OUTED YASH CHOPRA AS A CASTING COUCH VILLAIN! (and Subhash Ghai, but everyone knew about that). 

Man, after the Chopra comment, Kapoor's career is over...

Shakti has been framed: P Nihalani
   By: A Mid Day Correspondent
   March 14, 2005

The Shakti Kapoor episode has left Bollywood stunned. The screen villain was caught on camera allegedly propositioning a wannabe actress on a TV news channel. In the alleged sting operation, Kapoor has named Subhash Ghai and Yash Chopra as directors who use the casting couch.

Now, an angry Ghai and Chopra have strongly denounced Kapoor’s actions and have said the film trade associations would take action against him.
Ghai said, “We haven’t decided whether to file a case or ban him from films.

That’s a decision that will be taken by the association.” It is believed a secret meeting was convened at Pehlaj Nihalani’s home last night.

Nihalani is the President of the All India Motion Pictures and Television Producers Association (AMPTPP).

But when contacted, Nihalani denied the meeting took place. “There has been no meeting. The association will not be used to take action against any personal matter.

The people who are affected and have been named in the programme have to sort it out among themselves.

Why should the whole industry get involved in this? If we have any meeting, it will be to decide what steps to take with the media, which is getting stronger every day and creating these explosions.”

Does he think Kapoor is guilty? “No, Shakti was framed. It was a well-laid out plan.

An edited version of the video was shown, in bits and parts. Obviously it was a planned conspiracy to defame him. India TV got so much mileage out of it. Today, everyone is watching a channel nobody looked at yesterday.”

He added, “Of course, the casting couch exists in the film industry. But it exists everywhere — the fashion and corporate world too has it. Kis kispe action loge? Jo pakde gaye wohi chor hai, baki sab sadhu hai?”

Sources in the film industry say the fraternity will now be more careful about what they are doing and whom they are talking to. Says Nihalani, “Of course they will be more scared and much more careful about whom they talk to and what they say.

This is the second time it has happened after the Madhur Bhandarkar episode last year. In the west, everything is planned; they have their own cameras and they give out their own tapes. Now, we will have to take precautions too.”


I have been framed: Shakti Kapoor (Yeah, riiiiight: Meredith  )

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2005 10:44:49 AM ]

 MUMBAI: A day after a television channel claimed to have caught him on camera asking a woman for sexual favours, actor Shakti Kapoor held a press conference at his Juhu apartment on Sunday, saying the tape had been edited in such a way so as to incriminate him.

Kapoor said the incident had occurred over two months ago and the tapes had been doctored.

"The film industry is with me. Govinda and Sanjay Dutt even called me up today to express their solidarity," he said, adding that he was contemplating legal action against the channel in the future.

Kapoor said the woman, who was actually a reporter from the TV channel, posed to be an aspiring actress and had been calling him for more than six months.

"She constantly kept in touch with me either through phone or SMSs for months together.

"Then, one day she booked a room in a five-star hotel and called me over. She kept a bottle of whisky on the table and got me drunk.

"She kept saying that she was willing to do anything to enter the film industry and provoked me. The trap had been planned well-in-advance."

Kapoor further stated that the tapes were finely edited to leave out what the girl had said to him.

"The channel has only played what I said and not what the girl spoke or the provoking gestures that she made. I'm not denying what I said; only that I was provoked into doing it.

"I had gone to the hotel with a briefcase. Why would I do that if I intended something else?" he said.

He added that women who sleep around in their quest to become actresses never gain a foothold in the industry.

"All big names have carved a niche for themselves with their hard work and strong character," he said.

[Sanju_Bhai]

Vote in my poll on this subject.

[gabahd]

Woah...
I just hope the truth comes out clear and that the bad guys will be exposed!

as weird as this comment will seem, I'm kinda happy that this is my first "live" Bollywood scandal!
... I mean I've read about Vivek vs. Salman and all those other scandals after they had happenned...

[Sanju_Bhai]

This might be one of the few real scandals.  The other ones have to be made up.

[JenniferJanu]

B'wood baddie Shakti Kapoor caught on tape

IANS[ SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2005 08:15:00 AM ]
 
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NEW DELHI: Bollywood baddie Shakti Kapoor has been filmed purportedly making verbal and physical advances against a young woman and casting aspersions on several film personalities in a sting operation conducted by a private TV channel.


Kapoor did not deny making the advances but maintained he was set up. He claimed he had not made any specific statements about his fellow stars but only spoke in generalities.

The sting was conducted by producer Suhaib Ilyasi for his "India's Most Wanted" programme that has now shifted to the India TV channel.

The 40-minute clip, which was shown to reporters Saturday, will air Monday, Ilyasi said.

In it, Kapoor is seen to be making sexually explicit verbal and physical suggestions to an India TV reporter posing as an aspiring film star.

The reporter is told of various "services" that would have to be provided if she were to make it big.

Kapoor then turns his wrath on Ilyasi and the cameraman when he discovers he is being filmed.

"Kapoor had the choicest of verbal abuses reserved for us when he realised what happened. He threatened us with dire consequences and even said he would stab the girl," Ilyasi said.

"It was a trap," Kapoor told reporters.

"This girl had been in touch with me for close to five months, calling me up in the middle of the night and asking for roles. She even sweet-talked me into meeting her. Any man would fall for this," he claimed. 
 

[Prem Rogue]

Well this is not a revelation that casting couch shenanigans happen.  Pretty much any film industry will have it.  But accusing Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai!  That's kind of like saying Spielberg and Lucas do the casting couch stuff.  I'm not saying Chopra and Ghai have or have not done it, but I'm skeptical.

[JenniferJanu]

This Shakti is a piece of work.


From an interview in the Hindustani Times:

On his villainous image

Kapoor says that he is known for his comic roles rather then negative characters. He sung songs and danced in in his films. And raped on screen only one or twice - "Then too I kept laughing. It is so funny to rape a girl".

(even if he's joking, that is soooooo not funny)

Here, he is taking smack about Aish, Priety and Rani--

TV host Suhain Ilyasi on Saturday aired a tape purporting to show well-known screen villain Shakti Kapoor trying to lure a wannabe star with the promise of a role in films. The video purports to show Shakti Kapoor offering his help to the starlet and attempting to kiss her.
Throughout, the girl’s face was not seen. Kapoor was shown in what is said to be a hotel room talking to the girl about how she needed to be groomed before she was introduced to filmmakers. Kapoor is shown telling her that stars like Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee went through the casting couch before they were signed for big banners and dropped the names of Subhash Ghai and Yash Johar.

“You have to do all this if you want to get big names... You need to be groomed for three months and take acting lessons and also lose weight...,” said Shakti Kapoor. We have a number of people trapped (on video) of which this is the first. Soon we will be coming out with details about others in the film industry. On why Shakti Kapoor, when he claimed to have videos of others as well, Ilyasi said this was the channel's decision.

--from the deccan chronicle[/i]

[Totally Basmatic!]

He sounds so skeevy. I wonder what role he would have in casting films anyway, if he's an actor.

[NishaTG]

Personally for me, the accusation against Subhash Ghai is more believable than the accusation against Yash Chopra. Anyway, he could have just been saying that to enter into the film industry, you have to go through the casting couch. Then only you can get to work with the big banners like Subhash Ghai and Yash Chopra. Will never know.

[Prem Rogue]

Personally for me, the accusation against Subhash Ghai is more believable than the accusation against Yash Chopra. Anyway, he could have just been saying that to enter into the film industry, you have to go through the casting couch. Then only you can get to work with the big banners like Subhash Ghai and Yash Chopra. Will never know.

That probably happens a lot when the very production of films has been so shady and underhanded.

Does anyone else picture Gogo from Andaz Apna Apna when reading this thread? 

[Meredith]

Personally for me, the accusation against Subhash Ghai is more believable than the accusation against Yash Chopra.

I commented on this in another topic recently.  Ghai gave Manisha Koirala her first break, and she accused him of sexually assaulting her on the set (see her bio for the story).  The fact that she went on to become a star -- rather than being ostracized by the industry -- says something.  Of course, one could argue that her refusal to withdraw from the film says something, too.  But then consider the fact that Ram Gopal Varma cast a Ghai-lookalike to play the skeezy director in Naach who comes onto Antara Mali's character...  To quote a renowned sage, "Things that make you hmm!"

[Prem Rogue]

I commented on this in another topic recently.  Ghai gave Manisha Koirala her first break, and she accused him of sexually assaulting her on the set (see her bio for the story).  The fact that she went on to become a star -- rather than being ostracized by the industry -- says something.  Of course, one could argue that her refusal to withdraw from the film says something, too.  But then consider the fact that Ram Gopal Varma cast a Ghai-lookalike to play the skeezy director in Naach who comes onto Antara Mali's character...  To quote a renowned sage, "Things that make you hmm!"

The music director character in Satya was also very sleazy.  Was he based on a real person?

[Anna]

Wait...

From an interview in the Hindustani Times:

Kapoor was shown in what is said to be a hotel room talking to the girl about how she needed to be groomed before she was introduced to filmmakers. Kapoor is shown telling her that stars like Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee went through the casting couch before they were signed for big banners and dropped the names of Subhash Ghai and Yash Johar.

--from the deccan chronicle

SHAKTI HAS OUTED YASH CHOPRA AS A CASTING COUCH VILLAIN! (and Subhash Ghai, but everyone knew about that).

Man, after the Chopra comment, Kapoor's career is over...

Shakti has been framed: P Nihalani
 By: A Mid Day Correspondent
 March 14, 2005

The Shakti Kapoor episode has left Bollywood stunned. The screen villain was caught on camera allegedly propositioning a wannabe actress on a TV news channel. In the alleged sting operation, Kapoor has named Subhash Ghai and Yash Chopra as directors who use the casting couch.

Hmmm conflicting reports... Once they say Yash Johar (who has in fact passes... why is Shammi bad-mouthing the gone)... then next article they say Yash Chopra....  So who in fact are they talking about? 

-Anna

[CesmiSiyah]

I didn't know who it was until I googled for him. For all those who doesn't know what he looks like from his name:

[Arwen]

OK, but is someone really surprised by this?

[JenniferJanu]

Is Shakti Kapoor related to Karishma, Kareena, Rishi, et. al.?

[Arwen]

Is Shakti Kapoor related to Karishma, Kareena, Rishi, et. al.?

No, he isn`t.


BTW, weren`t there rumours that Salman had a fight with Ghai? Maybe it was because of Aish.

[Brindavani]

Shakti Kapoor was (not sure if he still is) married to Padmini Kolhapure's sister, Shivangi.  They had eloped way back. 

[guruduttfan]

anyone have an online link to this program??

thx

[Brindavani]

My wife will thrash Suhaib, says Shakti

Hindustantimes.com

New Delhi, March 14, 2005|13:39 IST

Shakti Kapoor's wife sees nothing indecent about his 'proposal' to a struggler-turned-female journalist on spy cam. "There's complete harmony at home," he says.

The screen baddie, who was apparently caught making promises of stardom to the girl in return for sexual favours, says he was falsely implicated in a sting operation orchestrated by a satellite news channel. Besides an overwhelming show of solidarity from the entire film fraternity, Shakti claims he's proud of the fact that his wife Shibani Kolhapuri and other family members have been unwavering in their support even after the damning video footage was aired on TV.

"At this difficult time, I am happy that my wife is by my side. She treats me as her only God on this earth. She is a typical Hindu woman who is very religious. She sees me as her 'Pati Parmeshwar' and the video has done nothing to change that image. All this false and distorted exposure has not shaken her confidence in me, one bit. In fact more than me, it is my wife who has jumped to my defence. If she has her way, she will go up to Mr Illiyasi and give him a good thrashing.

"Not just my wife, even my children, my sister-in-law and other family members are with me because they realise that what has been shown to people by Mr Illiyasi is completely one-sided. A man who has been accused of the murder of his own wife, who tried his luck in the film industry but failed and who himself has doubtful credentials, is in no position to expose anyone else. He should first look within and then talk about morality and ethics," says Shakti.

According to the veteran actor, there may be several reasons why he was entrapped. "Suhaib was upset with me. He wanted me to work in his film and I refused. He had told me at that time that he would take revenge," he alleges.

Shakti also doesn't rule out political vendetta, since he campaigned for the Congress during the Lok Sabha polls last year. "The tape is forged and there's a complete misrepresentation of facts because a lot of things have been deleted to show that the girl didn't make any moves on me or made any offers. In fact it was she who did everything to provoke me for sex. I am sure some big opposition leaders are involved in the episode and they will be exposed very soon," he says.

Shakti insists he will bounce back: "Everyone is with me and the whole film industry is going to teach Mr Illiyasi a lesson. Many, including Pehlaz Nihlani, Sanjay Dutt, Govinda and Rinku are on my side and we will soon sue those responsible for such wrong deeds."



*** - I don't know why they are calling her Shibani Kolhapuri.  Her name used to be Shivangi Kolhapure. 
 

[Brindavani]

I guess the articles are pouring in now.


Ban him: Preity Zinta
 
Shakti is truly a real life villain: Preity

Press Trust Of India
Posted online: Monday, March 14, 2005 at 1600 hours IST

Mumbai, March 14: The sting operation by a television channel, filming actor Shakti Kapoor purportedly asking sexual favours from a woman, has evoked sharp reactions from the industry with some denouncing it and others saying the entire industry should not be stereotyped for acts of some persons.

 
In a statement, film director Subhash Ghai, who has been named by Kapoor as indulging in the "casting couch syndrome", said, "these kinds of insane people with such shameful acts, do survive in every segment of the society including cinema.

"It is very sad that people like Shakti project our industry and seniors in such a bad light. I am sure our associations will take action against such acts," he said.

In a statement, actress Preity Zinta, who also has been blamed by Kapoor, said, "this comment is made in a very poor taste and he is truly a person who has no respect for anyone and no honour.”
 
"I am happy to be part of the industry but feel that one dirty fish spoils the whole pond. He is truly a real life villain and deserves to be banned from our film industry as there is no place for him here," she said.

Condemning the way the sting operation was conducted, director Sawant Kumar Tak said, "had the actor been caught luring an innocent victim, it was understandable. But having a journalist pose and enact a drama is different... it appears to have been staged to trap him".

However, on Kapoor's statement about the rest of the industry indulging in casting couch game, Tak said the entire industry could not be blamed for one individual's deeds. "Shakti Kapoor does not represent the entire industry," he added.

"It is unfair on part of the media to blame the industry. A sensible director would not indulge in this because he cannot afford to put his entire career, reputation and work at stake for a single night stand," he said.

"Moreover, how can the media trespass into private spaces? What the channel has done is wrong," he said.

Director Mahesh Bhatt said blaming that the entire industry is indulging in casting couch is erroneous.

"I would be naive if I say there was no casting couch. However, the truth also is that the major bulk of the industry does not indulge in it. There are people who use their position for some gains but to say the entire industry did it would be wrong," he said.

"Also it would not be right to selectively embrace some people who make us proud and ampute the other," he said referring to statements disowning Kapoor.

He also opposed sting operations aimed at "catching eyeballs" and boosting TRP ratings.
 
 

[Arwen]

"At this difficult time, I am happy that my wife is by my side. She treats me as her only God on this earth. She is a typical Hindu woman who is very religious. She sees me as her 'Pati Parmeshwar' and the video has done nothing to change that image. All this false and distorted exposure has not shaken her confidence in me, one bit. In fact more than me, it is my wife who has jumped to my defence. If she has her way, she will go up to Mr Illiyasi and give him a good thrashing.

 

Someone actually believes this?

[Sanju_Bhai]

"At this difficult time, I am happy that my wife is by my side. She treats me as her only God on this earth. She is a typical Hindu woman who is very religious. She sees me as her 'Pati Parmeshwar' and the video has done nothing to change that image. All this false and distorted exposure has not shaken her confidence in me, one bit. In fact more than me, it is my wife who has jumped to my defence. If she has her way, she will go up to Mr Illiyasi and give him a good thrashing.

 

Someone actually believes this?

Maybe not, but he seems to have flair for spinning a story.

[LilAni]

Many doves are crying right now, at this blatant loss of innocence!

Anyway, I think Shakti Kapoor is a terrible person, and I hope all of his accusations are just his defense mechanisms, and not the truth...