"I was told that I'll have to sleep with the hero."
TV actress Kishwer Merchant spoke about her acting journey, revealing that she had a casting couch experience.
She said that a big filmmaker once told her to sleep with the leading actor.
Kishwer said: “It happened with me when I had gone for a meeting – but just once.
“My mother was accompanying me.
“I was told that I’ll have to sleep with the hero.
“I politely turned down the offer and we left.
“I wouldn’t say ki ye bahut hota hai (I wouldn’t say that it happens a lot) or it’s a normal thing.”
She went on to say that such things happen in every industry.
Kishwer continued: “The industry is infamous for this but it happens in every industry.”
She added that the leading actor and filmmaker were “very big names”.
On whether the casting couch experience affected her, Kishwer revealed it did not as she was very focused on her work.
She said that she had more of an interest in TV, adding that she is happy with her career.
On being in the industry for more than two decades, Kishwer believes she has shown her versatility.
“From playing a doctor to a vamp to a lawyer to a ‘Bramharakshas’, I’ve done it all.”
“Yeah, I wanted to play a lesbian but that didn’t happen. It would be something new and yeah, so it would be challenging.
“And now that our society has approved of it, I think it would be worthwhile to play this character, say, after a few years.
“Such roles are going to be around in the near future.”
Kishwer Merchant has appeared in various TV shows, including the popular Ek Hasina Thi and Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan.
She also appeared in the 2011 comedy film Bheja Fry 2.
Away from TV, Kishwer is currently enjoying the best phase of her life as she is expecting her first child with husband Suyyash Rai.
She took to Instagram to announce the pregnancy.
Kishwer shared a picture of herself with her husband and wrote:
“You can now stop asking ‘when are you guys gonna have a baby’. Coming Soon .. #august2021 #sukishkababy.”
Since the announcement, Kishwer has been updating her fans with an Instagram maternity diary.
Kishwer first met singer Suyyash on the set of the 2010 show Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani.
They began dating for several years before getting married in 2016.
The couple also participated in the ninth season of Bigg Boss.
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