Entertainment · Indian Cinema · 4 hrs ago
Vidya Balan says she was dropped from a film after a hotel meeting
Vidya Balan says a director dropped her from a film early in her acting career.
The incident happened in Chennai, where she was working on an advertisement and had already signed the film.
She says the director repeatedly insisted they discuss the project in his hotel room, although she suggested meeting at a coffee shop.
Balan kept the room door open, and says the director left within five minutes.
She says she was later removed from the project, though he did not make an explicit improper proposal.
She described it as a matter of staying alert, rather than a full casting-couch experience.
Her account highlights concerns about women’s safety and pressure in the film industry, and she says no career opportunity is worth compromising personal safety.
Vidya Balan said she was removed from a film after a director insisted on meeting her in his hotel room in Chennai.
She said she had suggested meeting at a coffee shop, but he repeatedly pressed for the hotel-room meeting.
Balan said she left the room door open, and the director left after about five minutes.
She said she was later dropped from the project, although the director did not make an explicit improper proposal.
Balan described the incident as not a full casting-couch experience and said personal safety should not be compromised for an opportunity.
- Who
- Vidya Balan and an unnamed film director.
- What
- Balan said she was dropped from a film after she kept a hotel-room door open during a meeting with the director.
- When
- Early in Balan’s career; the exact date is not stated.
- Where
- Chennai, India.
- Why
- Balan said the director repeatedly insisted on meeting in his hotel room, prompting her to keep the door open; she said she was later removed from the project.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Balan went to Chennai for an advertising-film shoot and met a director of a film she had already signed.
Balan said the director repeatedly insisted on meeting in his hotel room rather than a coffee shop.
Balan said the director left after she kept the room door open.
Balan said she was removed from the film project.
- Location
- Chennai
- Meeting place requested by director
- His hotel room
- Alternative meeting place suggested by Balan
- A coffee shop
- Time director stayed in room
- About five minutes
- Project outcome
- Balan said she was removed from the film after the incident
3 sources
What people are saying
I suggested meeting at a coffee shop, but he kept insisting that we go to the hotel room and talk.
I suspected his intentions, so after entering the room I kept the door open.