Actress Saiyami Kher has recalled a disturbing experience she had at the beginning of her career. Speaking very frankly in an interview, Saiyami revealed that when she was just 19 or 20, trying to make it big in films, she was confronted with an awkward proposal.
As Saiyami recounts, a female casting agent told her that a well-known Telugu director was willing to offer her a role—but only if she was prepared to “compromise.” Saiyami was stunned, particularly as the suggestion came from another woman.
“I did not entirely know what she meant initially,” Saiyami remembered. “She explained it a few times before finally, she uttered, ‘You need to understand.’ But I could not take that route. I have my boundaries, and it hurt to hear this from a woman.”
Despite the coercion, Saiyami stood her ground and refused. She refused to name the director and casting agent but pointed to the impossibility and incongruity of the situation. “She only told me that if I wanted the opportunity, I’d have to make some concessions,” Saiyami explained.
Saiyami Kher debuted in Telugu film with Rey (2015) and entered Bollywood with Mirzya (2016). She then worked in critically successful films like Mauli (2018), Choked (2020), Wild Dog (2021), and Ghoomer (2023). Her frank admission highlights that despite progress, the issue of the casting couch remains a jarring reality in the film industry.