Isha Koppikar rose to fame since the early ‘2000s, owing to her gorgeous looks, exemplary choice of films, and unapologetic opinions. She has extensively worked across not just Hindi, but also in the South Indian film industry. Some of her best remembered films include Krishna Cottage, Company, Darna Mana Hai, LOC Kargil, 36 China Town and others.
In a recent interaction with Siddharth Kannan, Isha Koppikar highlighted on several flaws she has witnessed in the film industry. The diva was asked if she ever wanted to switch over from item songs to doing some more substantial roles. To this, the diva explained how actresses, or women in general, don’t have the decisive power in Bollywood. Isha expressed how it is either the men, be it the filmmaker or the actor who decides what an actress is supposed to do in a film. She said:
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“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.”
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Moving forth in the conversation, Isha delved into the ugly underbelly of the film world and talked about facing casting couch at the age of 18. The actress revealed how she was told by a producer that she must be ‘friendlier’ in order to get work. Explaining how the connotations of this word changes drastically when it comes to such horrific encounters, Isha expressed:
“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.”
In the concluding segment of the interview, Isha remembered another sleazy encounter of casting couch she had at the age of 23, in the hands of an A-listed actor. While she didn’t take any names, Isha narrated that the said person asked her to come and meet him alone, not even with any member of her staff or her driver. Isha added that she couldn’t comply with the requirements of coming absolutely alone. Moreover, she remembered being touched inappropriately during her meeting with the actor. In her words:
“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. They wouldn’t just come and touch you inappropriately; they would squeeze your arm and say, ‘Heroes ke sath bahut dosti karni padegi in a sleazy way.”
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Previously, during a candid interview with ETimes, Isha Koppikar remarked that she has never compromised her personal principles ever in her life, when it came to her professional choices. As a result, she was comfortable in choosing smaller roles, instead of bigger parts in films, that would have only come about if she behaved according to other’s necessities.
What are your views on Isha Koppikar’s revelations?
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