Subash Ghai and Aneez Bazmee Accused of Casting Couch

Posted by admin on Oct 30th, 2011 | 0 comments

Israel based model and once upon a time aspirant in Bollywood, Rina Golan has accused prominent personalities of indulging in casting couch, in her book ‘Dear Mr. Bollywood-How I fell in Love with India, Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan’. Prominently mentioned are directors and producers like Subash Ghai, Aneez Bazmee, renowned Bhajan singer Anoop Jalota and former physiotherapist of the Indian cricket team, Dr Ali Irani.

“The book is about my journey in Bollywood and the casting couch has been the most important part of it. There is nothing negative about anyone but the phenomenon is very much a reality and people should know about it. I have just honestly penned my experiences with the people I met in Mumbai while exploring options to make an entry into the film industry,” says Rina. The lady says that the main objective of her book is not expose the dark side of Bollywood but just to offer her tribute to Bollywood, her journey in the B-Town and her tremendous dedication to Shah Rukh Khan.

“The book is an open letter to Shah Rukh Khan and I have written about my admiration for him. I have expressed my love for the industry. Everything else that I have mentioned are realities that had to be narrated because I wanted to present an honest description of Bollywood,” Rina said. She is surprised that people act shocked in Bollywood, whenever the term casting couch is mentioned. “I wonder why people get shocked at the mention of casting couch. I have witnessed numerous young girls and boys getting exploited,” she said.

Without beating around the bush, Rina recalls how Subash Ghai had tried to seduce her, and tried to take her to his bedroom. Here is an excerpt of the book revealing how Subash Ghai had tried to preposition her. “I want you to trust me and surrender to me completely. I will take you around with me everywhere and you will see how your life will change,” he said.

She then talks about how Aneez Bazmee proposed her and asked her out to dinner. He said, “We would have some fun later” when she had approached him for a role in Thank You. She also said that Anoop Jalota had once told her that he ‘would love to cheat on his wife’. Both Bazmee and Jalot have denied the allegations and Ghai is yet to offer his stand. But Rina sticks to her claim. She says, “It is my story and I have honestly revealed it. If this means there will be no place for me in Bollywood, so be it. It is neither a publicity gimmick nor a ploy for increased sales of my book. People who love Bollywood will surely read it,” she said.