Anurag Kashyap's ex-assistant reveals director got upset when actress suggested sexual favours in exchange for work

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, September 22

Several friends and colleagues have come out in support of the Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap after allegations of sexual harassment were levelled against him by actor Payal Ghosh. 

Anurag’s former assistant, Jaydeep Sarkar, has also defended the director on social media. 

In a series of tweets, the former assistant on Monday recalled an incident from years ago when he was working with a director, and a female actor suggested sexual favours in exchange for work. 

He revealed, that Anurag refused outright. The director felt disappointed at what some women have to go to get work done in the industry. 

“This is the right time to recount this story. I was an assistant with @anuragkashyap72 in 2004. I was looking into secondary casting for ‘Gulaal’ and was meeting many actors. A young actress, who really wanted a part in the film insisted she wanted to meet Anurag,” he wrote. “She waited a while and then Anurag got done with a narration and agreed to meet her. The young actress probably assumed the only way to get the role was through the ‘casting couch’. She tried suggesting a few ‘favours’ verbally,” he added. 

aydeep said that when Anurag refused her, she tried other ways. “But when Anurag politely ignored it, she gently let her sari pallu drop. A few times. At this point, Anurag got up and requested her to not do this. He told her she would get the part if she was the right fit and nothing else would work. Saying this, he walked out of the room, disappointed. I was shocked by what I saw, but I had seen a hero get out of a situation, with respect and empathy for her. Later he told me he was disappointed that so many young women feel this is the only way they can make it,” he said.

“I don’t blame the woman! Many like her come into the industry, believing this is how you get cast in a movie. And that may even be true, much like in any other field of work. But having worked with Anurag, especially in casting, the one thing I always observed was his absolute respect for women,” he said.

Post the allegations, Kashyap responded on Twitter in which he denied the allegations, claiming that they were ‘baseless’. “I neither behave like this nor do I ever tolerate this at any price,” he said. His lawyer has also responded to the claims.