Abhishek Banerjee Speaks About Casting in Bollywood Before MeToo

Abhishek Banerjee, a well-known casting director in Bollywood, recently spoke about how common sexual favours were in the film industry before the MeToo movement. He also shared how things have changed and how his company worked to keep casting professional.

Sexual Favour Requests Were Common

Banerjee admitted that in the past, it was normal for some casting decisions to involve sexual favours. Actors were sometimes expected to agree to personal or sexual requests to get roles. He said this was a shocking and common practice, which changed only after the MeToo movement.

“I remember when I used to cast, it was so difficult for people to accept that we were doing it without sex. We were only working, but people were shocked,” Banerjee explained.

Strict Rules in His Casting Company

Banerjee said his casting company always focused on talent. He set strict rules that no employee could meet an actor outside the office for casting purposes.

“If someone meets an actor at a coffee shop or outside the office for casting, they would be fired. Meeting actors outside office space is not professional,” he said.

He also clarified that his company never asked employees to behave badly or make sexual requests.

How MeToo Changed the Industry

Banerjee noticed a clear change after the MeToo movement began. He said, “Now there are fewer coffee shop or dinner meetings. Women have become smarter and more careful. They understand the situation better.”

This shows that the film industry is slowly respecting professional boundaries, which was not always the case in earlier times.

Actor Reactions to Professional Casting

Banerjee shared that actors often found it hard to believe that casting could happen without any personal or sexual expectations.

“I have had experiences where, after casting somebody, they would ask, ‘Oh, so now when?’ And I would say, ‘What? You are a fantastic actor. Why can’t you just accept that there is no hidden motive?’”

This highlights how deeply sexual favours were normalised in Bollywood before MeToo.

Why This Discussion Matters

Banerjee’s statements show the importance of professional ethics in the film industry. For many years, sexual misconduct was a serious problem. The MeToo movement helped bring attention to these issues and made the workplace safer for actors, especially women.

His company’s strict rules are an example of how casting can focus only on talent and hard work, without asking for favours. It shows that change is possible, even in industries where misconduct was once normal.

Category: Entertainment / Bollywood / Trending News
Abhishek Banerjee, a casting director, revealed that sexual favours were common in Bollywood before the MeToo movement. He said his company always focused on talent and professional conduct. After MeToo, the industry is slowly becoming safer and more professional.