It’s discussed behind the doors, the stories stay untold and the acts that follow lay under the covers. Yes, it is the casting couch we are talking about. Every period, every era has seen the ‘casting couch’ concept. Just like the frightening stories few like to talk about, it’s a shallow side of the industry spoken but in hushed tones. The casting couch has probably been there since the emergence of Indian film industry.

Many actors or industry professionals might agree with it, and the fresh to join the brigade is Ad-man, news TV pundit and actor Suhel Seth. The reputed columnist has accused two of the titans of the Hindi Film Industry today, Mahesh Bhatt and Subhash Ghai of unethical practices, rather, of casting couch. He clearly claimed that ‘all the Mahesh Bhatts and the Subhash Ghais do it.

There is no doubt that there is undeniable existence of the ‘casting couch’ concept. Many actors, directors and industry professionals have agreed to the fact that the phenomenon exists. Though Mahesh Bhatt and Subhash Ghai, both, have, of course, denied Seth’s claims, it still remains a mystery whether or not there is any truth in it.