Couch, apologises later

MUMBAI: Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has defended the casting couch culture, saying the Indian film industry “at least” provided jobs and did not abandon women after raping them.

In comments that come in the wake of the #Metoo campaign which calls out sexual offenders, Khan put the onus on the woman and said the casting couch was not a new phenomenon with “anyone and everyone”, including people in the government, indulging in it. The 69-year-old choreographer made the remarks in response to a question from a journalist in Sangli on Telugu actor Sri Reddy stripping in protest against the casting couch culture in the Telugu film industry.

“This has been happening since time immemorial. Anyone and everyone tries to get cozy with every girl. Even people in the government do it. Why are you after the film industry? At least the industry provides employment. It is not as if you are raped and abandoned,” Khan is heard as saying in the video.

The National Award-winning choreographer, famous for songs such as “Ek Do Teen” and “Choli ke Peeche”, added that the onus of staying safe and avoiding such situations was on women and pressed the media not to target the film industry.

“It’s upon the girl – what does she want to do? If you don’t want to be caught, you won’t. When you are an artist, why will you sell yourself? Don’t say anything about