Renuka Chowdhary: Casting couch in film industry, politics

New Delhi, April 25: Senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary on Tuesday raised many eyebrows by saying that "not just film industry and other work spaces, even Parliament is not immune to the casting couch".

Chaudhury also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for denigrating her as a woman in the past by indirectly referring to her as "Surpnakha" in Parliament when she had laughed at one of his statements.

Chaudhury's remark came after veteran Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan said that casting couch was prevalent in all sectors, and not just in the film industry where it "provides livelihood at least". Khan later apologised for her comment.

"Yes, it is the bitter truth. The whole film industry may get up in arms against me. It's just not in the film industry, this happens everywhere, in work spaces, with women. It happens everywhere. So, don't imagine that Parliament is immune or some other work space is immune. It's not," Chowdhary told reporters.

"... if you look at the western world today, established top actresses have taken this long to come out and say 'me too'. It's time India stood up and say 'me too'," she added.