Neena Gupta recalls harrowing casting couch experience, was asked to 'spend the night' with a producer

In her recently released autobiography 'Sach Kahun Toh', Neena Gupta opened up about a harrowing casting couch incident involving a renowned producer.

New Delhi: Veteran Bollywood actress Neena Gupta recently released her autobiography 'Sach Kahun Toh' on June 14 and the book has opened many chapters of her life to her fans. One of the most shocking parts of her journey as an actress in Bollywood was when she was asked for sexual favours in return for a role! In an excert from the book, she wrote, "One day, a friend told me to go visit a producer who was a big shot in the south. He was visiting for a few days and was staying at the Sun-n-Sand hotel. When I got to the hotel, I called the producer from a phone in the lobby. 'Yes, yes, I've been expecting you,' he said. 'Come on upstairs.' 'So, what's my role, sir?' I asked him finally when he paused to catch his breath. 'The heroine's friend,' he said. When he explained it to me, it seemed like a very small part. 'Ok ... I have to go now, sir' I said, 'My friends are waiting for me.'....'Go? Where? he asked. He seemed genuinely shocked. Aren't you going to spend the night here? Suddenly, I felt like someone had just poured a bucket of ice water on my head. Khoon sookh gaya (My blood froze)". Recalling the incident in an interview with NDTV, she expressed that she should have been more "careful" in such a situation. She feels she should have spoken to him in the lobby to avoid the awkward conversation.