Chiranjeevi reacts to ‘casting couch’ allegations in Telugu cinema, reveals only way to avoid being taken advantage of: ‘If you are firm with principles…’

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Chiranjeevi went one step further and reportedly stated that if someone has had bitter experiences, personal choices and situations may have also contributed to it. “There may be references to casting couch or related incidents, but one must remember that if you work professionally and genuinely, the other person will also behave accordingly. If you are firm with your principles, no one will attempt to take advantage of you. This is something I strongly believe in. Be professional and straightforward, and everyone will understand,” Gulte quoted him as saying.

However, the Telugu megastar’s remarks contradict the allegations of exploitation made by actors who have faced such situations firsthand. Revealing that she encountered the casting couch during the initial years of her career, actor Fatima Sana Shaikh once said that it happened when she received a call about an acting opportunity in a South Indian film.

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“He asked me, ‘You will be ready to do everything, right?’ I told him that I will be working hard and will do what is required for the role, but he kept saying that and I played dumb because I wanted to see how low can he get,” she told Bollywood Bubble. Actors like Rithvik Dhanjani, Saiyami Kher, and Sudhanshu Pandey have also admitted to facing similar experiences.