Casting couch incidents, i.e., exploitation in exchange for work, have surfaced multiple times in Bollywood and other film industries. Jamie Lever, daughter of the famous comedian Johnny Lever, shared her experiences, revealing the risks new artists face in the industry.
Jamie Lever Casting Couch Experience: Jamie Lever, the daughter of Bollywood's legendary comedian Johnny Lever and a talented comedian and actress herself, has recently made a shocking revelation. She recounted how she faced a dangerous casting couch situation early in her career. The experience was so frightening that she still shudders remembering it.
A Trap Laid Under the Guise of Casting
Jamie Lever shared during an interview how a person tried to trap her under the pretext of a video call audition. At the time, she didn't have a manager and handled all her work herself. In the early days of her career, she received a call claiming she had been selected for an audition for an international film.
In the name of an audition, Jamie was sent a video call link. During the call, her video turned on, but the person on the other end didn't turn on their video. He brushed it off, saying he was traveling and couldn't turn on the camera. The person claimed he was casting for a "major international film," and Jamie was perfect for the role.
Shameful Demands Made Citing a Bold Scene
Jamie explained that the person said it was a "bold character," and she would have to act on the video call, trying to seduce a 50-year-old man. Along with this, Jamie was also asked to take off her clothes. Shocked and uncomfortable by this demand, Jamie immediately understood the situation and said she wouldn't do anything without a script. But the person responded, "This is a script-free audition; do whatever you want."
Jamie immediately ended the conversation and closed the video call. Later, she realized that if she had done anything on that call, her video would have been recorded and could have been misused. She said, "If I had listened to him, he would have recorded the video and could have blackmailed me. I had never experienced anything like this in Mumbai. It was very scary for me."
I Thought I Was Safe Because of My Father
Jamie also admitted that she never thought she would face a casting couch situation. "I had heard many times that all this happens in the industry, but I thought I would avoid all these things because of Papa's (Johnny Lever) name and recognition. But that's not the case." Jamie Lever's account once again exposes the dangers of casting couches in the Bollywood industry.
This incident also serves as a reminder that even if an artist is from a film family, there is no guarantee of protection from corrupt and exploitative people. She warned young people, "If you are asked to perform a scene without a script, be cautious. No professional director works like that."
