Television actress Shilpa Shinde has joined the list of actresses who have come out with accusations of sexual assault, abuse and exploitation against men in the film industry, since the release of the Hema Committee report last month.
In a conversation with News18 Showsha, the actress said a prominent Hindi filmmaker had asked her to seduce him, as part of an audition.
“It was during my struggling days, around 1998-99. I cannot take names, but they told me, ‘Aap yeh kapde pehno aur yeh scene karo’ (wear these clothes and do this scene). I didn’t wear those clothes. In the scene, he told me he was my boss, and I had to seduce him. I was very innocent then, so I did the scene. That person tried to force himself on me, and I got so scared. I pushed him away and ran out,” she said.
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“The security staff realised what had happened and asked me to leave immediately. They thought I would make a scene and call for help,” she added.
Shinde, 47, said that she would not reveal the name of the producer as she does not want his children, who are a few years younger than her, “to suffer”.
The Bigg Boss winner also recounted a time when she met with the producer again.
“After a few years, I met him again, and he spoke to me kindly. He didn’t recognise me and even offered me a film role. I refused. He still doesn’t remember me.”
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The actress shot to fame playing ‘Angoori’ in the Hindi sitcom Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!
The release of the Hema Committee report on August 19 has sent shockwaves not only in the Malayalam film industry, but also in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where they are now considering similar initiatives.