Surveen Chawla Exposes Casting Couch and Body Shaming in Film Industry

In candid interviews, the ‘Criminal Justice 4’ actress recounts disturbing encounters with directors and highlights the pervasive issues of exploitation and unrealistic beauty standards in cinema.

Actress Surveen Chawla has courageously opened up about her harrowing experiences with the casting couch and body shaming in the film industry. In a recent interview on The Male Feminist podcast, Chawla detailed multiple instances of inappropriate behavior by industry professionals, shedding light on the darker facets of showbiz.

One particularly unsettling incident involved a director who, despite being aware of Chawla’s marital status, attempted to kiss her after a meeting at his Mumbai office. “He leaned towards me trying to kiss, and I had to push him back. I was startled and asked him what he was doing, and I just walked off,” she recounted.

Chawla also revealed a disturbing experience from the South Indian film industry, where a National Award-winning director, unable to communicate directly due to language barriers, conveyed through a mediator his expectation for her to sleep with him during a film shoot. “I would rather call him a pimp, because that is what he was doing,” she stated, referring to the mediator.

Beyond these distressing encounters, Chawla discussed the pervasive issue of body shaming in the industry. She was often told she was “too thin” and needed to gain weight to fit certain roles. “Yes, I was told you are too thin, slim, because you won’t have bosoms. Kuch hilega nahi (Nothing will jiggle), nothing will bounce,” she shared, highlighting the unrealistic beauty standards imposed on actresses.

Currently, Surveen Chawla is promoting her latest project, Criminal Justice: A Family Matter, streaming on JioHotstar. Her candid revelations contribute to the ongoing conversation about the need for systemic change and greater accountability within the entertainment industry.