Aashiqui actress Anu Aggarwal has caused huge outrage with her recent remarks regarding the casting couch in Bollywood. During an interview, the actress surprised many by standing up for the practice rather than condemning it, something that has disappointed fans and industry professionals. The saddest part about this statement is that it does not come from a man but from a women in the year of 2025. Read to find out more!
Anu Aggarwal Defends Casting Couch
Anu Aggarwal, who became popular in the early ’90s with the blockbuster film Aashiqui, wondered why people pretend as if the casting couch is a big thing. “Why are we pretending?” she seemed to say, like it’s something every day that one should not comment on. Although she said she had never gone through such experiences and always had working relationships with her directors, including Mahesh Bhatt, she didn’t leave it there.
Rather than using her influence to stand behind the exploited, Anu attempted to explain the prevalence of the casting couch by equating it with what occurs in other sectors as well. She made statements such as, “Where does it not exist?” and even went so far as to include that such things have always occurred between males and females due to their “energies.” But the most startling thing was when she said there’s nothing wrong with it. In her opinion, the actual problem is that people don’t utilise their potential. She waved off the issue entirely, saying, “What’s the big deal being made about the casting couch?”
This sort of attitude is not only old-fashioned but hazardous as well. The casting couch isn’t just a matter of relationships or desirability, it’s a matter of power, pressure, and, in most cases, manipulation. Several actors, particularly newcomers, have spoken out over the years about how they were exploited while they were most needy. To dismiss it as something natural is not only insulting to their tales but also conveys the wrong message. In the same interview, Anu also had something to say about Aashiqui 2, the 2013 remake with Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. She mentioned that she had watched the movie and had thought it was “nice,” but refused to say more.
Also Read: Shruthi Narayanan Addresses Casting Couch Video Controversy, Calls It AI-Generated
While Anu Aggarwal may have been a beloved face from the past, her recent remarks have left many people disappointed. At a time when Bollywood is finally beginning to have honest conversations about abuse and power, comments like these take the conversation backwards. There’s nothing bold or empowering about defending the casting couch; it’s just plain wrong.