Former actor Vichitra, known for her roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada movies, recently shared her experience on the show Bigg Boss Tamil 7. She revealed that her decision to leave the film industry 20 years ago was due to a troubling incident involving the casting couch.
Vichitra recounted a distressing encounter with a famous hero, “There was a party, where I met a very famous hero. He didn’t even ask my name, and asked me to come to his room. I was shocked because I didn’t understand what kind of gesture that was. I went back to my room and slept, but I began facing issues during the shoot. I’ve never faced such issues in Tamil cinema,” she said.
Vichitra added that as they were shooting outdoors one day in a dense area where a commotion takes place. “I felt someone touching me inappropriately and at first I thought it was a mistake,” she said, adding, “When I caught the guy and took him to the stunt master, he slapped me in front of the entire unit. It left me with bruises. I couldn’t tell my parents, so I told my friend who encouraged me to complain to the union.”
However, despite seeking help from the industry union, she faced disappointment as they suggested forgetting the incidents and returning to work. Vichitra claims that the situation got so worse during the outdoor shoot that men from the unit would get drunk and bang on the doors at night. Her husband’s support was her only solace during these tough times.“My husband was the manager of the 3-star hotel we were staying at. Him and his team did their best to keep me safe and would change my rooms every day. I still remember the banging noise and how scared I felt back then. My husband wasn’t even my friend then, he did it out of kindness,” she added.
Although Vichitra didn’t disclose the film’s language, social media speculation points towards the 2001 Telugu film ‘Bhalevadivi Basu’ based on her description of the scenes.
Vichitra’s story sheds light on the dark realities some actors face in the film industry. Her courage in speaking up serves as a reminder of the challenges that prevail, urging for a safer working environment for all artists.
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