Bollywood actress Surveen Chawla, known for speaking out on challenging issues in the film industry, has once again opened up about her personal encounters with casting couch harassment, including a troubling incident after her marriage.
On the podcast The Male Feminist, Surveen recounted an unsettling experience at a director’s office on Veera Desai Road, Mumbai. She revealed that following a meeting inside the office cabin—where the director inquired about her married life and husband—he unexpectedly attempted to kiss her as she was leaving. Surveen immediately rejected his advance and left, but the director reportedly followed her to the gate.
In another shocking revelation, Surveen alleged that a national award-winning South Indian director had expressed his desire to share a bed with her during a film shoot, conveyed through a mutual friend. These incidents underscore the pervasive harassment faced by women in the industry.
Surveen also addressed the issue of body shaming, particularly prevalent in the South Indian film sector. “People were blunt and harsh about my appearance, but I always responded firmly,” she said. In a prior discussion with RJ Siddharth Kanan, she described how body shaming remains a common, painful experience, with constant scrutiny on weight, waist, and chest size.
Career Highlights and Upcoming Projects
Surveen Chawla began her acting career in 2003 with the TV show Kahin Toh Hoga. She has worked extensively in Hindi, Punjabi, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu cinema, with notable films including Hate Story 2, Paramesh Panwala, Raju Maharaju, Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal, Dharti, and Hero Naam Yaad Rakhi. Her acclaimed projects also include Parched, Hum Tum Shabana, Ugly, Sacred Games, and the short film Churi.
Recently, Surveen starred alongside Pankaj Tripathi in Criminal Justice Season 4, which has been released. She is currently gearing up for the release of Rana Naidu Season 2, scheduled for June 13.
