Yesterday, this paper ran a front-page report about a television cameraman promising a young aspiring actress a break in television serials. His promises of course came on the condition that she have sex with him. The report then stated that he raped her several times. What is shocking is his blasé answer: that this is all part of Bollywood.

While this cameraman’s brazenness is one thing, it is a pointer to the stereotype that one has of Bollywood — that to get that break, many aspirants, men or women, have to sleep around. It is a stereotype that has a germ of truth in it. The casting couch is a part of Bollywood.