Meet actress connected with Aishwarya Rai, was tortured on film set, faced casting couch at 19, worked with Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor, today she is…

This actress faced casting at an early age and was asked to "compromise" in order to gain projects.

Casting couch is a disgraceful truth of the Indian film industry. It was a common practice in the beginning but faded away as times changes and actors started voicing their ordeals. One such actress was a woman who worked with Shah Rukh Khan. She has worked several other big names too.

Among the several actresses who have boldly spoken against the reality is Niki Aneja. A model, VJ, host and actress, Aneja shared her predicaments as a young actress trying to build her career and it was against her father’s wishes.

Casting Couch at 19

Niki Aneja’s career spans over three decades long. Aneja became a household name with the television series Astitva…Ek Prem Kahani as Dr Simran Mathur. She made her debut in Mr Azaad along side Anil Kapoor. After doing few more films she was a hiatus from the movie scene but contniud her carer trajectory in teliviosn.

It was during her debut film that she was subjected to the casting couch at a 19-year-old. In an interview she revealed that she wanted to foray into being a pilot but her father effused to fund her education abroad. Later he cousin, an actor Parmeet Sethi, adviced to try modeling to earn money. Pahlaj Nihalani offered her first film and that is when she felt ‘bullied; and ‘objectified’ on film sets.

“The way I was being talked about…almost objectified, I did not like it. I was starting to feel uncomfortable when I wasn’t treated nicely. I realise there’s more to acting, like say, casting couch. They said aap compromise karlo, kya problem hain? (You need to compromise; what’s the issue?) I don’t resonate with it at all. I was being asked to dine with distributors. I asked Pahlaj ji, why are you asking this? He said, picture nahi bechni hai kya? (don’t you want to sell the film). They were like, karna padega; karna hi hain (you have to do it),” recollected Niki speaking with Sidharth Kanan.

Did you know Niki Aneja was cast as lead in Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Yes Boss’? Due to unfortunate circumstances, she only shot for about five days and had to leave after an accident. But, till dat, Aneja recalls the warmth and benevolence of Khan who came to visit her and sat by her side when she was hospitalized.

Niki Aneja also has a connection with Aishwarya Rai. She was on the jury panel judge for Femina Miss India 1994, when Rai won the pageant.