Exclusive: Casting Director From Dharma Production Exposed, Asks Actress For ‘Sex Talk
Mumbai: Last year Bollywood witnessed many me too movements were actresses accused directors, casting directors and many well-known actors for sexually harassing them.
Well, it seems there is no end to sexual harassment in Bollywood industry, as another incident has come in light were a casting director from Dharma Production have sexually harassed anchor named Reshma Mayekar.
Nitesh Sharma, who calls himself a co-casting director of Dharma Productions, on 11 June called an anchor Reshma Mayekar (who is willing to be named) to tell her she had been selected. Nitesh said, “I am speaking from Dharma Productions and we are casting for our next film Mr Lele. You have been selected, but you have to pay Rs 2,500.”
Sharma shared his details in order to convince the actress. His introduction to the artiste says he works with Dharma Productions. He sent across casting forms to the actress.
Before Nitish someone had called from Dharma Productions’ official landline, but Reshma could not receive it. Subsequently, Nitesh Sharma made a call from his personal mobile number.
Following his demand for Rs 2,500 as an audition fee Reshma said that her earnings had dried up during the ongoing coronavirus-lockdown and she could not pay for the audition, Nitesh messaged after some time that even if she could not pay Rs 2,500, even Rs 1,500 would do! He said that in the event that Reshma was not selected, she would get a refund. Reshma refused nevertheless.
After which Sharma said that there is another way by which Reshma could get selected for the coveted role. On being asked what the condition was, Sharma allegedly asked Reshma to do some “sex talk”.
Replying to this Reshma lambasted Nitish and said she is not doing that on which Nitesh replied, “You are getting Rs 10 lakh (fee) as well as fame.” Just talking sex in return shouldn’t be a big deal, he allegedly suggested. Nitesh called Reshma about seven times.
Following this incident, The Prevalent India tried to reach out to Karan Johar but there was no response from his side.
Meanwhile, on being contacted, Mr Lele director Shashank Khaitan denied the charge. He said there was nobody in Dharma named Nitesh Sharma. “This is a fraud call,” he remarked.
Khaitan said “Dharma’s “legal team” was “working on it”. “We have sent the complete details to our legal team,” he said, failing to explain whether Dharma Productions needed lawyers to edit the Wikipedia article or fight a case for a staff member they claim does not exist.
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