Isha Koppikar talks casting couch

Actor shared troubling experiences during early years

In a candid and emotional interview with Siddharth Kannan, actor Isha Koppikar shared some of the troubling experiences she faced during her early years in the Bollywood industry. Reflecting on her journey, Isha detailed incidents that underscored the darker side of the entertainment world.

Isha recounted being approached by an A-list actor who suggested a private meeting, a proposal that left her deeply uncomfortable. She recalled: “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.”

She continued, “He said, ‘There are already controversies about me, and the staff spreads rumours.’ But I refused him and told him that I couldn’t come alone. He was an A-list actor from the Hindi film industry. I must be around 22-23 years old at that time.”

She went on to add, “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 Ektaa Kapoor once told me to have some attitude.” Isha further added how many would touch her inappropriately and tell her to be friendly with the heroes in a sleazy manner.

The actor made her Bollywood debut with the 1998 film Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan and subsequently appeared in numerous notable films. She also starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra in Don. In 2009, Isha married hotelier Timmy Narang. Their love story began after meeting at a gym, and they knew each other for three years before starting their romantic relationship. The couple welcomed their daughter, Rianna, in July 2014. However, Isha and Timmy decided to part ways earlier this year, as per Hindustan Times.