‘Sexploitation Can Occur Anywhere, Learn The Ways To Push Back’
Vandana Singh, a TV and film actress in Punjabi cinema, says an actress must create some walls around her to ward off an indecent proposal. Her views
The entertainment industry was recently shaken by the disclosures made by Justice Hema Committee report about sexploitation in Mollywood, or Malayalam cinema. Since I do not have any first-hand experience of South cine culture, I will only share my experiences in the Punjabi show business.
It was in 2012 when I launched my acting career from Phir Subah Hogi, a Zee Television show. In the 12 years that I have spent in the industry, I have never faced any kind of exploitation or stress. Probably, because how wheels move in the Television industry is a simple and established process.
TV shows indsutry has kept itself away from any kind of dirt. There are people from different states, cities and towns, and we often share our journeys into this industry. I can safely vouch from my own experience and those of my fellow actors that none of the female actors in the TV entertainment business has ever experienced any exploitation or safety concern.
It is a small community. One is approached by the casting directors or a production house for a particular role. They may also inform you about the upcoming shows, new banners and roles. Audition dates are fixed and from a large group, some actors get shortlisted. There is a second audition which is followed by screen test. If the fate is by your side, you also appear for a mock shoot. Post the mock shoot that happens with two or three people, one person gets selected for the role.
I have worked in the Punjabi film also. There it is a slightly different scene. Your contacts and your friendships hold the key in landing you the right films. Auditions don’t usually happen there. There is much lobbying for a role and usually the same guys are taken as heroes again and again because they are known to the directors or producers. And the same actresses essay the roles as heroines in film after film.
Recently, I have seen a couple of casting agencies make a foray into the Punjabi film industry. Yet, it’s not easy to get work in the Punjabi cinema. We don’t get to know when the casting gets done or a new project launched. Only once the film teaser is dropped that we get to know about it. And you see the same set of faces in all their movies. However, exploitation is completely unheard of.
In South, though I have never auditioned for a film or a show, we do hear that auditions are difficult and women are often asked how comfortable they are doing bold scenes. In fact many of the auditions for Southern cinema take place in Mumbai.
Mumbai production houses are very professional. Whenever we have late night shoots, the production team takes care that we reach home safely. Even co-actors are helpful. In remote locations, where transport may not be easily available, all females in the crew are taken care of.
As far as sexploitation in any industry is concerned, I feel that women need to have an invisible sword by their side – be it your tongue or your gaze or your don’t-mess-with-me mannerism. So, one will think a hundred times before he approaches you with a wrong intention. So that sort of shield is a must; and that holds true in any profession.
Exploitation happens in every industry. Just because the film industry is a bit open and carefree, things come to the fore. One has to be alert and create one’s own strong boundaries and if at all an unavoidable situation or indecent proposal comes to you, the actor must have the nerve to push it back with a firm NO.
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As told to Deepa Gupta
