This documentary could change the tide in Bollywood. A BBC World News report has documented how aspiring actors in the Indian film industry often fall prey to casting couch. Actresses Radhika Apte and Usha Jadhav feature in the documentary and speak in details about how actors are sexually exploited in return for film roles.&nbsp; 
 
"Some people are regarded as Gods. They are so powerful that people just don't think that my voice is going to matter, or people think that if I speak, probably my career is going to get ruined," Radhika Apte tells BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan in Bollywood's Dark Secret, reports a newspaper.&nbsp; 
 
The culture of silence in Bollywood is encouraged, Apte states in the documentary adding that she wishes that the global movement like #MeToo would also create a significant impact in India. " The way the women, and the men, of course, came together and decided that as a team we are not going to let this happen, I wish that could happen here," states Radhika Apte.&nbsp; 
National Award winning Marathi actress Usha Jadhav reveals that how its common for powerful men in the film industry to demand sexual favours. Jadhav recalls how she herself was asked to give in something in return for a film role.&nbsp; 
 
"I said something on the lines of, 'What? I don't have money'. He said, 'No, no, no, no. It's not about money, it's about you sleeping with, maybe it can be a producer, maybe it can be a director, it can be both too," Jadhav said. 
 
The documentary also features an aspiring actress, 25, who left her small village to chase her Bollywood dream. The actress says she was molested on a number of occasions, including the first time she met a casting agent. 
 
"He started telling me that for an actress, you should be happy to have sex as and, when possible, and embrace your sexuality. He touched me wherever he wanted, he kissed me wherever he wanted and I was shocked. He put his hand inside my clothes so I asked him to stop and he said: Do you know what, if you really want to work in this industry I don't think you've got the right attitude," she was quoted as saying in the documentary which will be aired worldwide on Saturday and Sunday.&nbsp;

Radhika Apte and Usha Jadhav feature in a BBC documentary that talks about casting couch in Bollywood

This documentary could change the tide in Bollywood. A BBC World News report has documented how aspiring actors in the Indian film industry often fall prey to casting couch. Actresses Radhika Apte and Usha Jadhav feature in the documentary and speak in details about how actors are sexually exploited in return for film roles. "Some people are regarded as Gods. They are so powerful that people just don't think that my voice is going to matter, or people think that if I speak, probably my career is going to get ruined," Radhika Apte tells BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan in Bollywood's Dark Secret, reports a newspaper. The culture of silence in Bollywood is encouraged, Apte states in the documentary adding that she wishes that the global movement like #MeToo would also create a significant impact in India. " The way the women, and the men, of course, came together and decided that as a team we are not going to let this happen, I wish that could happen here," states Radhika Apte. National Award winning Marathi actress Usha Jadhav reveals that how its common for powerful men in the film industry to demand sexual favours. Jadhav recalls how she herself was asked to give in something in return for a film role. "I said something on the lines of, 'What? I don't have money'. He said, 'No, no, no, no. It's not about money, it's about you sleeping with, maybe it can be a producer, maybe it can be a director, it can be both too," Jadhav said. The documentary also features an aspiring actress, 25, who left her small village to chase her Bollywood dream. The actress says she was molested on a number of occasions, including the first time she met a casting agent. "He started telling me that for an actress, you should be happy to have sex as and, when possible, and embrace your sexuality. He touched me wherever he wanted, he kissed me wherever he wanted and I was shocked. He put his hand inside my clothes so I asked him to stop and he said: Do you know what, if you really want to work in this industry I don't think you've got the right attitude," she was quoted as saying in the documentary which will be aired worldwide on Saturday and Sunday.

Radhika Apte reveals how sexual harassment is prevalent in Bollywood

In the wake of Telugu actress <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-south-indian-film-casting-couch-telugu-actress-sri-reddy-says-producers-son-forced-her-to-have-sex-129867">Sri Reddy</a> calling out casting couch in the entertainment industry as the top South Indian producer’s son forced her for sexual favours and veteran choreographer Saroj Khan <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-saroj-khan-defends-casting-couch-says-it-provides-livelihood-132433">defending</a> then <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-saroj-khan-apologises-for-defending-casting-couch-in-bollywood-132488">apologising</a> for her casting couch remark in a press meet, Ranbir Kapoor gave his opinion on casting couch in Bollywood.&nbsp;

Ranbir Kapoor who was present at the teaser launch of his upcoming film titled Sanju, a biopic based on Sanjay Dutt’s life directed by Rajkumar Hirani spoke about the rising debate on casting couch in Bollywood and whether it exists for all actors. Watch the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-watch-ranbir-kapoor-in-sanju-teaser-sanjay-dutts-life-through-rajkumar-hirani-eyes--132509">teaser</a> of the film here.&nbsp;

Ranbir said, "I have never faced casting couch. If it's there then it's the worst thing."

Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju, also stars Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Vicky Kaushal, Jim Sarabh, Paresh Rawal and a few other actors as well. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-sanju-teaser-out-whos-playing-who-in-sanjay-dutts-biopic-132528">This is who these stars will portray in the film.</a>&nbsp; 
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During the teaser launch of Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju, Ranbir Kapoor shared his thoughts on casting couch in Bollywood

In the wake of Telugu actress Sri Reddy calling out casting couch in the entertainment industry as the top South Indian producer’s son forced her for sexual favours and veteran choreographer Saroj Khan defending then apologising for her casting couch remark in a press meet, Ranbir Kapoor gave his opinion on casting couch in Bollywood. Ranbir Kapoor who was present at the teaser launch of his upcoming film titled Sanju, a biopic based on Sanjay Dutt’s life directed by Rajkumar Hirani spoke about the rising debate on casting couch in Bollywood and whether it exists for all actors. Watch the teaser of the film here. Ranbir said, "I have never faced casting couch. If it's there then it's the worst thing." Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju, also stars Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Vicky Kaushal, Jim Sarabh, Paresh Rawal and a few other actors as well. This is who these stars will portray in the film.

Ranbir Kapoor at 'Sanju's teaser launch said, 'never faced casting couch'

India`s minister for women has warned Bollywood producers over sexual harassment in the Hindi film industry after a scandal that has brought down some leading Hollywood figures. 
 
Maneka Gandhi wrote to leading production houses reminding them that they are &quot;ethically and legally&quot; responsible for providing a &quot;safe, secure and inclusive work environment&quot; for all staff under Indian law. 
 
Bollywood has not so far faced the kind of allegations that have rocked the US film industry and led to the downfall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. 
 
But last month a Bollywood actress said she had been harassed by an unnamed director early in her career. 
 
India`s Ministry of Women and Child Development said in a series of tweets late Wednesday that Gandhi had written letters to 24 producers urging them to comply with India`s 2013 sexual harassment act.

&quot;The aim of this law is to ensure that no woman is sexually harassed at her workplace,&quot; she wrote.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;This is to be followed in letter and spirit by all organisations in the country and I expect you to personally lead these efforts with sincerity and commitment, in accordance with all the applicable laws,&quot; Gandhi added.

It follows an interview that Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar gave to the Mumbai Mirror tabloid in November in which she said she had &quot;lost a few roles&quot; over the years because she &quot;didn`t give in&quot; to unwanted advances.

Bhaskar urged aspiring actresses to reject parts rather than &quot;get on the couch&quot;, a reference to the &quot;casting couch&quot; culture where young women are expected to exchange sexual favours to be cast in a film. 
 
The issue is almost never discussed in Indian media or talked about openly by Bollywood stars, but aspiring actors and actresses are known to regularly share their experiences of it privately.&nbsp; 
 
Since the Weinstein scandal first broke some Indian actresses, including Kalki Koechlin and Richa Chadha, have said Bollywood needs to create an environment where victims can speak out without fear of being ostracised or trolled on social media. 
 
Bhaskar said in her interview that the cliquey nature of Bollywood, where many of the leading stars and directors are either friends or related, made going public with allegations difficult. 
 
 
 
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Since the Weinstein scandal first broke some Indian actresses have said Bollywood needs to create an environment where victims can speak out without fear of being ostracised or trolled on social media.

India`s minister for women has warned Bollywood producers over sexual harassment in the Hindi film industry after a scandal that has brought down some leading Hollywood figures. Maneka Gandhi wrote to leading production houses reminding them that they are "ethically and legally" responsible for providing a "safe, secure and inclusive work environment" for all staff under Indian law. Bollywood has not so far faced the kind of allegations that have rocked the US film industry and led to the downfall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. But last month a Bollywood actress said she had been harassed by an unnamed director early in her career. India`s Ministry of Women and Child Development said in a series of tweets late Wednesday that Gandhi had written letters to 24 producers urging them to comply with India`s 2013 sexual harassment act. "The aim of this law is to ensure that no woman is sexually harassed at her workplace," she wrote. "This is to be followed in letter and spirit by all organisations in the country and I expect you to personally lead these efforts with sincerity and commitment, in accordance with all the applicable laws," Gandhi added. It follows an interview that Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar gave to the Mumbai Mirror tabloid in November in which she said she had "lost a few roles" over the years because she "didn`t give in" to unwanted advances. Bhaskar urged aspiring actresses to reject parts rather than "get on the couch", a reference to the "casting couch" culture where young women are expected to exchange sexual favours to be cast in a film. The issue is almost never discussed in Indian media or talked about openly by Bollywood stars, but aspiring actors and actresses are known to regularly share their experiences of it privately. Since the Weinstein scandal first broke some Indian actresses, including Kalki Koechlin and Richa Chadha, have said Bollywood needs to create an environment where victims can speak out without fear of being ostracised or trolled on social media. Bhaskar said in her interview that the cliquey nature of Bollywood, where many of the leading stars and directors are either friends or related, made going public with allegations difficult.

Maneka Gandhi warns Bollywood producers over sexual harassment in industry