TV actresses talk about their security concerns on sets

Television actor Sai Ballal who essays the role of Bhaiyaji in Udaan grabbed headlines recently for allegedly molesting and sharing pornographic clips with a female coactor during a shoot The actress alleged that when she approached the production house no action was taken against Ballal She then approached the Cine and TV Artistesrsquo Association CINTAA who advised her to lodge a police complaint which ultimately led to his arrestDeepika Singh left had alleged that her costar Anas Rashid had touched her inappropriately while shooting for their show Diya Aur Baati HumThe incident has once again highlighted the security concerns of small screen actors Unlike their counterparts in Bollywood most TV actors canrsquot afford to hire personal bodyguards Moreover film production houses hire security agencies to keep a hawkrsquos eye on the set to prevent untoward incidents from taking place and keep fans and gatecrashers at bay In stark contrast television production houses do not provide such security measures due to budget constraints In an industry ruled by TRPs tackling issues of long working hours and inadequate safety measures is rarely a prioritySai Ballal was arrested for allegedly molesting and sending pornographic clips to a female coactor on the sets of the TV show UdaanMore often than not actors are forced to take matters in their own hands For instance they often pay someone on set to safeguard hisher valuables to combat acts of theft on set Vanity vans are often shared between actors and a unit member for some extra money often doubles up as a guard to keep Peeping Toms at bayDipika Kakar plays Simar in Sasural Simar KaOne tight slapActress Deepika Singh who essays the lead role of Sandhya in the daily soap Diya Aur Bati Hum recently complained that her coactor Anas Rashid who plays her onscreen husband Sooraj in the show allegedly molested her on the set Singh claimed that while shooting a romantic scene he touched her inappropriately and that she raised the issue with the crew which included her directorhusband Rohit Raj GoyalWhen Rashid tried to explain and clear his part she lost her cool and slapped himTelly actress Aashka Goradia says such incidents are scary ldquoI feel sorry for the actress as this shouldnrsquot happen to anyonerdquo she saysGoradia recounts an incident where an actressrsquos complaints of harassment against a male costar went unheard Goradia has her own set of safety measures in place while shooting ldquoI always check my vanity van thoroughly Itrsquos become a habit over the years but you never know what can happen to anyonerdquo The actress opines that producers must ensure that actorsrsquo privacy is not compromised on ldquoThere must be a strict disciplinary check mdash crew members and assistants must not be allowed to use camera phones on the setrdquo she addsKrystle DrsquoSouza was last seen as Sakshi in Ek Nayi PehchaanChecklistTelly actress Sara Khan too feels the need for safety regulations ldquoI have never faced anything like this but all I can say is that such incidents display heights of shamlessness and disrespect But now I will be extra cautious and check the green room and vanity vans before settling in This is the one place an actor considers hisher lsquochill out zonersquo so mobile phone cameras should not be misused hererdquo However Khan also opines that being a TV producer is not easy ldquoThere are too many responsibilities and pressures to deal with so they tend to ignore the safety of the cast But at the same time it is the producerrsquos duty to keep his cast and crew securerdquoNia Sharma plays Roshni in Jamai RajaAccording to her producers should monitor employees and unit hands to avoid untoward incidents from taking place ldquoIn a daily soap where an actor shoots every day at a long stretch normally one has a permanent makeup room I avoid sharing my makeup room and hotel room while travelling for work I always lay down this conditionrdquo she explainsSara Khan is seen as Anji in Dilli Wali Thakur GurlsPrice of fameTelly actress Dipika Kakar feels that such incidents happen in every field but get highlighted when they happen to actors She says ldquoWomenrsquos safety is an issue across the country I always check my makeup room when I enter it When in front of the camera I hand my personal stuff over to someone I trust My staff stays with me throughout the shootrdquo She also points out that production houses need to make sure that they hire trustworthy people and that the actors are safe on the set ldquoI have never faced such an unpleasant situation and I am hoping that I wonrsquot eitherrdquoKavita Kaushik is seen in Jhalak Dikhhla JaaBe carefulTelly actress Kavita Kaushik believes that one has to remain alert all the time ldquoThese days it is important to be aware of what is happening around and be on guard mdash whether on set or elsewhere I feel safe on the set as I make sure that people who I trust take care of my belongings I also ensure that there are people around me to avoid unpleasant incidents from taking placerdquoKaushik also thinks that actors should refrain from carrying expensive items to the set She says ldquoI lost my mobile phone in the past I have also lost an emerald ring because I took it off and kept it on my makeup table There are many people on a set so how can you nab the robberrdquoScary sceneTelly actress Nia Sharma adds ldquoI would not like to take names but yes I have heard of several such incidents In cases of molestation you need to speak up immediately and bring the culprit to book It is scary indeed Robberies are also rampant on the set I have often discovered cash missing from my bag The robbers are smart mdash they do not steal the entire amount so that the theft is detected only laterrdquoHowever not all actresses are equally critical Barkha Bisht thinks that television is the safest industry for actresses ldquoI have been in the industry for 10 years and I have never faced anything like thisTV industry is a safe place to be in In our industry it is important to have your head on your shoulders be wise and not let anything or anyone affect your integrity We have to work as professionals and if anyone tries to challenge your integrity then you need to raise your voicerdquoKrystle DrsquoSouza agrees She says ldquoI feel safe on the set and have always been careful with my belongings I lock my room and prefer to keep my valuables in my car Thankfully I havenrsquot had such an experience in any of my showsrdquo