Saroj Khan apologises for her remark justifying casting couch

Speaking to Times Now, Khan said there was nothing new in casing couch. The bizzare logic she gave was that "at least it gives livlihood".

Noted choreographer Saroj Khan has reportedly apologised for her remark on the casting couch. Khan had earlier defended the 'casting couch' in the film industry and gave a bizarre logic to justify it. She said that it is done with the consent of a girl.

The term casting couch has brought a lot of bad name to the film industry. The term is used to describe sexual favours demanded by the casting directors or film producers from aspiring actors for a role in a film or for other career advancements. Several reports have surfaced in the past in which the filmmakers are said to have demanded sexual favours in exchange for a role in films.

Times Now reported Khan as saying there was nothing new in casting couch. The bizarre logic she gave was that "at least it gives livelihood".

"Casting couch provides a livelihood. Taking advantage of a girl is done with her consent. Women are not sexually abused and dumped. They are given livelihood," reports quoted her as saying.

As per reports, Khan also said that women are ultimately responsible for casting couch as it is done with their consent.

"Yeh chala aa raha hai Baba azam ke zamaane se. Har ladki ke upar koi na koi haath saaf karne ki koshish karta hai. Govt ke log bhi karte hain. Tum film industry ke peeche kyun pade ho? Woh kam se kam roti toh deti hai. Rape karke chhod toh nahi deti (This has been going on for ages. People want to take advantage of girls. Even people in the government do it. Why are you after the film industry? It at least provides livelihood. Doesnt leave after raping?)," ANI quoted her as saying.

A few weeks back, aspiring Telugu actress Sri Reddy staged a protest against casting couch in Hyderabad. Sri Reddy kicked up a hornet's nest after she decided to go topless, to protest against the existence of the casting couch in the Telugu film industry. She also accused several prominent filmmakers and producers, of trying the same with her. The Telangana government then came forward to take measures to stop the exploitation of women in the film industry.

According to reports, the government has ordered the Film Development Corporation to form a special body to monitor the issues of the casting couch.