As Hollywood grapples with a storm of sexual assault allegations against high-profile names like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, the ripple effect of the #MeToo movement has sparked global conversations on abuse and power dynamics in the entertainment industry. While many actresses in the West have come forward with their experiences, Bollywood has largely remained silent—until now.
Indian actress Swara Bhasker has become one of the few voices from the Hindi film industry to speak openly about her personal ordeal with sexual harassment during her early days as an actor.
“I Lost Roles Because I Refused to Compromise”: Swara Bhasker
In a candid interview with Mumbai Mirror, Swara revealed the toxic propositions she faced at the beginning of her acting journey. “There were times I was told outright that if I wanted a role, I’d have to present myself in a certain way,” she said. “I lost many opportunities because I refused to compromise.”
Swara further explained how her reputation for being “uncompromising” affected her career. “It reached a point where people stopped responding to my messages because they knew I would never agree to ‘adjust’,” she added.
Harassment on Set: A Disturbing Account
Recounting one of the most traumatic experiences from a film shoot, Swara revealed how a director repeatedly crossed professional boundaries. The cast and crew were stationed at a remote location for a 56-day shoot, during which the director allegedly made her feel unsafe.
“He would send me text messages, invite me for dinners, and stare at me throughout the day,” she said. “At night, under the pretext of discussing scenes, he would call me to his hotel room.”
Within the first week of shooting, the director began making inappropriate conversations about love, sex, and one-night stands. “One night, he barged into my hotel room, completely drunk, and asked me for a hug. It was terrifying,” Swara recalled.
Living in Fear on Set
Swara shared how she took precautions to avoid further harassment. “Every day after pack-up, I would rush to my room, turn off all the lights, and sit in the dark. I would even remove my makeup in darkness so he’d think I was asleep,” she said.
Eventually, she confronted the director and issued a warning: if the behavior didn’t stop, she would quit the film. While the harassment paused for two weeks, it resumed soon after. Ultimately, she escalated the matter to the executive producer, who then arranged security for her.
“Losing a Role Is Better Than Losing Yourself”
Swara concluded with a strong message for aspiring actors and the industry at large: “Even if it means losing a role, never give in to the casting couch. It’s better to walk away than to surrender your dignity.”
Her bold revelation adds a crucial voice to the evolving conversation around workplace safety, power abuse, and gender dynamics in Indian cinema, and may encourage others in the industry to come forward.