Kalki Koechlin recalls harrowing casting couch incident in Cannes: ‘A big producer asked me out for…’

Kalki Koechlin recalls casting couch

Kalki Koechlin has made her mark in the industry with some iconic roles that have a special place in our hearts. However, not only her professional life but also her personal life grabbed headlines. In a recent interview, the actress exposed dark side of the industry as she recounts two casting couch experiences. The actress reveals how a big producer made her uncomfortable at Cannes, while the other one was in Mumbai.

Kalki Koechlin on her casting couch experience

In an interview with Zoom, the Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani actress recalls, "I have been into incidences where I have been in uncomfortable situations. One such incidence wasn't in this industry. It was at Cannes. I was not even an actor, I was a student in London at that time and I had gone to Cannes as a promo girl for Nokia phones. There was an Indian producer, I'm not going to say the name. He knew somebody who knew my mother and they put me in touch with him saying, ‘Meet him, he is a big guy.' So, I met him and went to see his screening at Cannes. He then asked me out for dinner in London, and when I asked him about any leads in work at that point, he made it very clear that I have to be with him in order for that to happen. I, obviously, said no, thank you, and that was the end of that."

She adds how she had an uncomfortable encounter in Mumbai as well and shares, "The other time it happened was when I went for an audition here in Mumbai for a film and the producer said, ‘Oh you want to do this film, but I need to get to know you because it's a big launch.' He was basically saying the same thing, but I said, ‘I'm sorry. I don't want to waste your time or mine.'"

Kalki on feeling angry

The actress admitted that although she felt rage in those moments, her first instinct as a woman was to leave the vicinity of the producers for her own safety. Sharing her thoughts, she said, "I have a raging fury inside me. I want to punch that person in the face but like any other woman, I tell myself to keep it in and just get out of the situation, cause it is also out of safety and other reasons. It's kind of disgust, kind of experience."