"many successful TV actors had made similar compromises"
Asha Negi recently opened up about her experiences with the casting couch early in her career.
In a candid interview with Hauterrfly, the TV actress recounted a troubling encounter with a coordinator.
According to Asha, he attempted to manipulate her into compromising her values for professional growth.
Reflecting on the incident, the actress described how she met the coordinator when she was in her early twenties.
Asha stated: “He started talking about television and was almost trying to brainwash me into believing that this is how things work in the industry.
“He claimed that many successful TV actors had made similar compromises to advance their careers, saying, ‘All the big actors have done it’.”
While the coordinator did not explicitly ask Asha to make such a compromise, she sensed his underlying intentions.
This unsettling experience forced her to confront the type of career she wanted.
Asha recalled: “I told him, ‘If this happens, then I’m not interested’.”
The actress talked about the fear she felt at that moment.
Although she projected confidence during the conversation, she admitted feeling terrified and reached out to a friend for support.
Unfortunately, her friend’s response was indifferent, and he merely shrugged it off, stating:
“All this happens; it’s normal.”
In addition to discussing her early encounters in the industry, Asha also touched on her dating life.
She noted that in the television world, it’s common for actors to date their co-stars due to their busy schedules.
Reflecting on her breakup with Rithvik Dhanjani, she expressed the emotional toll it took on her.
“There is a grief, of course, and then handling everything because families are involved. If you are an actor, there are so many people to comment.
“I still get so many gaalis (verbal abuse) and so does he.”
On when the time is right for her to start dating again, she said:
“I will be vocal when I find someone.”
The actress revealed that her experience of being single has been liberating.
Asha stated: “It was so liberating initially; it was so difficult. Also, growth increases two times when you’re single because you’re focused on yourself.”
Over a decade has passed since Asha Negi first gained fame in the entertainment industry.
Following her breakout role in Pavitra Rishta, she starred as Gauravi Karmarkar in the web series Baarish.
Most recently, the actress was seen in the web series Honeymoon Photographer, which premiered on Jio Cinema on September 27, 2024.