The actor spoke about the harassment she had to endure when she rejected the advances of a top hero in the Telugu cinema industry.
Published Nov 22, 2023 | 3:17 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 22, 2023 | 4:45 PM
Vichitra speaks about the casting couch incident. (Supplied)
Actor Vichitra, who is now a contestant in the television reality show Bigg Boss (Tamil Season 7), has opened up about the casting couch incident that made her quit acting almost 22 years ago.
The actor, who is one of the strong contenders to win the title this season, chose to speak about this incident when the inmates of the house, as a part of a task, were asked to speak about incidents that had proven to be turning points in their lives.
Vichitra said, “In my life, there is an episode which I consider to be a turning point. You all know about my struggles in life. In 2000, an actor who is no more, suggested a film to me and I went to act in it. I don’t want to reveal the details of the film.”
Vichitra went on to recall that she went missing from the film industry in 2001.
She said, “Not many know why I quit the film industry. This was the reason for it. I want to forget it. Nobody else knows it other than my close family and friends. It became a big issue at that time. In my heart, it created a wound that wouldn’t heal. It is my biggest wound.”
Stating that she went to Kerala to shoot for the film in question as shooting was on at Malampuzha, the actor said, “I had to stay in a hotel there. You all know there are issues associated with casting. If I had to state a film in which I faced the maximum issues with regard to casting, it was this film.”
The film featured one of the top heroes in Telugu cinema as its lead actor, Vichitra disclosed.
The actor said that while she was staying at the hotel, the general manager of the hotel came up to her and informed her that the hotel was organising a party to celebrate it being upgraded to three star and that he would like for her to join.
The actor further said, “I met the hero of the picture at the party. He didn’t even bother to ask my name. He asked me, ‘Are you acting in this film?’ and I replied yes. Then he said, ‘Come to my room.'”
Vichitra added, “I was in shock. I did not understand what his gestures meant. I went back to my room, locked my door, and slept.”
However, Vichitra said that she began having major issues the next day onwards.
Narrating the ordeal that followed, she said, “I faced a lot of problems on the set. My shot and take wouldn’t be on time. Every day after six, there would be drunk people who would be banging on my doors.”
She added, “I used to call reception and tell them that I wouldn’t want to talk to anyone and, therefore, not to connect calls to me. I have never faced such problems in the Tamil field.”
The actor added, “At that time, my husband, who was not even a friend, was working as the general manager of the hotel. He asked me what was troubling me and asked me how he could be of help. I told him that I wanted to change my room in the hotel and that nobody should know my room.”
Vichitra said they helped her, “Every day I would stay in a new room. I would still be able to hear people banging on my previous room. I felt so ugly and I felt so bad about myself, didn’t know how to stop it.”
Just when she thought she was safe and had managed to keep those leaching after her at bay, Vichitra said that she was subjected to humiliation.
Recalling the incidents of the day, Vichitra said, “One day, they got irritated and wanted to teach me a lesson. The next day, they were shooting in a forest area and I was playing a village belle.”
She added, “It was a scene where chaos was to break out as a crowd dispersed when fighters enter the melee and begin fighting. When this was being shot, I felt being inappropriately touched.”
Stating that she had worked with several stunt masters in the Tamil film industry but this kind of thing would never happen there, she said that she initially thought that it could be a mistake.
“When they went in for a second take, the same thing happened again. The third time, when it happened, I caught the person who was doing it. I took him to the stunt master and explained to him that I was being inappropriately touched.”
Vichitra said, “The stunt master took the culprit’s hand out of mine and gave me a tight slap. I was stunned. I turned around to see if anybody would come to my aid, but nobody came.”
She added, “I walked out feeling anger and pain with tears in my eyes. I felt my body burning, as I walked out of the set.”
The actor said that she spoke to a friend who suggested that she file a complaint.
“I spoke to my union who asked me to stop working and return. I lodged a complaint and a lot of it was spoken about in the press. But what hurt me was that no one came for me,” she said.
