‘He Leaned In To Kiss Me After Talking About My Husband’: Surveen Chawla Recalls Casting Couch Experience

Actor Surveen Chawla has joined the long list of Bollywood and television personalities who’ve spoken up about disturbing experiences with the casting couch. In a new interview with Hauterrfly, the actor opened up about a shocking encounter where a director tried to kiss her—despite knowing she was recently married.

Recalling the incident that took place on Mumbai’s Veera Desai Road, Surveen said, “After the meeting at his office cabin, he came to see me off at the gate. We had just spoken inside his cabin—he had a big office—and even discussed my marriage. He asked how it was going and what my husband did. And then, as I came to the door to say bye, he leaned toward me trying to kiss. I had to push him back. I was startled and asked what he was doing, and just walked off.”

Surveen revealed that this wasn’t an isolated incident. She admitted she had similar experiences multiple times during her early career. In a past interview, she spoke about a South film director who allegedly asked her to sleep with him—via a third person, as he didn’t speak Hindi or English.

The Hate Story 2 actor also spoke about being subjected to body-shaming during her initial film meetings in Mumbai. “They questioned my appearance, weight, waist size, chest size,” she had shared, adding how such experiences make one “question themselves.”

Surveen started her career with the TV show Kahin To Hoga in 2003 and went on to appear in Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Kaajjal, and 24. She made her film debut in Kannada cinema with Paramesha Panwala and later featured in Bollywood titles like Ugly, Parched, and Chhuri, along with several Punjabi films.

She made her web debut with Sacred Games, and is currently seen in Criminal Justice Season 4 alongside Pankaj Tripathi. She also stars in Rana Naidu Season 2, releasing on Netflix on June 13.