'No casting couch in TV': Kamya Punjabi amid Mollywood MeToo
Television actor Kamya Punjabi has claimed that the Hindi TV industry is the "safest" and that there is "no sexual abuse or casting couch." The 42-year-old actor made these comments in an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha. Her comments come amid allegations of sexual assault by several actors in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries after the landmark Justice Hema Committee Report was made public on August 19.
'Television has been very clean': Punjabi
When questioned about the work environment in the Hindi TV industry, Punjabi responded: "Television has been very clean. I don't know what used to happen in the past but now it is very clean. There is no such filth here." She added, "People aren't forced or blackmailed here. There is no casting couch. If you fit a role, you have talent, you will be selected for the show."
'Nobody is telling anyone to sleep with them...'
Kamya further said, "I feel television is the safest place in the entertainment industry. Sexual abuse does not happen here. Whatever happens, because there is mutual consent." "Nobody is telling anyone to sleep with them in the promise of a role." She further mentioned, "Some actors are womanizers but if you stop it, if you make it very clear, such things do not happen. Nobody is being forced to do this."
Punjabi admits sexual abuse used to happen previously
When asked if the TV industry was always like this, Kamya said she does not "remember much" about her initial career days. However, she admitted that cases of sexual harassment used to happen previously. "Aab nahi hota. Woh tab hota hai jab dono ko chahiya hota hai," she claimed, adding that some actors get into relationships while working on a shot and stay locked in makeup rooms.
