If You’re a Woman in Film, Read This Before You Regret It

May 17, 2025Film ProductionAustin Shivaji Kumar

It's easy to get distracted by the glitz of red carpets, glamorous gowns, and Instagram-perfect lives that look perfect but aren't really perfect. And behind every dazzling photo op lies a much darker truth that you need to know today.

In the film and entertainment industry, especially in places like Mumbai and Bollywood, what the camera doesn't show is often what defines a woman's journey.

This isn't a story about dreams coming true. It's a story about the cost of those dreams. Because for many women, getting in front of the camera isn't just about talent. It's about survival, sacrifice, compromise, pain, and sometimes, complete surrender. Austin Shivaji Kumar strongly believes the system wasn't built for women. It was built to use them.

And yet, no one talks about it. Maybe because the language is hidden in coded words—slang, shorthand, "industry terms." But those terms carry weight. They carry stories. And understanding them is the first step toward changing the narrative.

The Casting Couch Is Not a Rumor

Everyone's heard the term "casting couch." But most still treat it like some urban legend whispered in green rooms and after-parties.

It's real. And it's everywhere.

In simple terms, the casting couch refers to the unspoken (but very real) practice of demanding sexual favors from aspiring actresses in exchange for roles or promises of fame.

But here's what most people don't realize:

It's rarely ever direct. It often begins with lines like "Let's meet for coffee and talk about your career."
Most of the time, the perpetuators are producers, directors, big shot filmmakers, and sometimes even well-known actors.
It's not just about sleeping with someone for a role, it's about being put in a position where saying "no" ends your career before it starts.

Unfortunately, it's been normalized. Women are told, "That's just how the industry works."

And worse, many independent shady agents encourage it aggressively, selling it as "a small price for a big break."

NO. Selling your pride, and soul can never be a SMALL PRICE. That's some real fcked up mess. And we need to fix this - Austin Shivaji Kumar

In fact, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has recently sought an action-taken report on casting couch incidents in Bollywood. This proves it's not just whispers anymore, it's a national issue now on official record.

Display Work: When You're Hired to Be Seen, Not Heard

A common term tossed around in casting circles is "display work." Sounds innocent, right? It's not.

Display work means you're hired purely for how you look. Not your acting, not your skills, just your appearance. And it's one of the most degrading gigs in the entertainment world.

Here's what it often looks like:

Standing beside a male lead at a press event, smiling and nodding, barely allowed to speak.
Being placed in music videos or background scenes, often scantily dressed, purely for visual appeal.
Getting paid less than half the male actors and still being told you should feel "lucky."

And yet, many young girls accept it. Not because they want to, but because it's a foot in the door. Or so they're told.

What it really is? A fucked up system that treats women like decoration and commodities.

PAC: Pretty, Available, Compromising

You won't find this acronym on official casting calls. But behind closed doors, everyone knows what PAC means.

Pretty
Available
Compromising

It's the "ideal female candidate" in far too many casting directors' minds. The perfect combination of beauty, accessibility, and willingness to "do what it takes."

A girl who fits PAC is more likely to land a role, not because she's talented, but because she's easy to control.

This twisted checklist destroys careers before they begin. Girls who refuse to "compromise" get labeled as "difficult." Or worse, "not serious about acting."

And the worst part? Some agencies coach their clients to become PAC.

They teach them how to flirt. How to dress to attract. How to "hint" without actually saying anything. Because in their words: "It's what the industry wants."

A government-commissioned investigation into the Malayalam film industry, known as the Hema Committee Report 2024, exposed a closed circle of corrupt powerful men who treated casting as their personal playground. Women were expected to fall in line, look pretty, stay quiet, and trade dignity for screen time. The report didn't just expose misconduct, it revealed a system built to break women before it ever launched them.

Again, fuck the system that violates innocent girls.

Makeup Room Politics: Silence or Obedience

The makeup room is supposed to be a safe space. A place to prepare, to focus, to breathe before the chaos of the shoot.

But for many women, it's another minefield.

There's a silent hierarchy in those rooms. You'll often hear phrases like:

"She's a producer's girl."
"She got here through her godfather."
"Don't talk back or you'll get replaced."

And it's not just gossip. It's a warning. Speak up, and you risk losing everything.

Makeup artists and stylists become the unofficial messengers of the power circle. They know who's favored, who's protected, and who's disposable.

And for actresses, it becomes a choice between silence or obedience.

Because the ones who resist don't just lose roles. They get blacklisted.

According to the McKinsey's survey conducted between March to June 2024, women hold only 17% of C-suite positions and 20% of board roles in Indian corporations, a stark indicator of how male-dominated power structures restrict women's influence.

The Brother Lie: Self-Protection in Disguise

In Bollywood, the word "brother" has a completely different meaning for women trying to survive.

Young actresses often call influential men "brother" in public deliberately, not because they feel familial love, but because it's a self-defense mechanism.

Call a director "brother," and people stop speculating about your relationship.
Call an actor "bhaiya," and you avoid rumors that could destroy your reputation.

It's tragic. Women are forced to protect their image using false relationships just to stay employable.

They're navigating an industry where image is everything, and one wrong whisper can ruin years of hard work.

Hotel Room Meetings: Disguised Exploitation

When someone says, "Let's meet in my suite," it should raise red flags.

And yet, it's standard in the industry.

Producers claim they're too busy for office meetings. Managers say "hotel lobbies are too noisy." And somehow, the meeting always moves to the room.

Many times, it's pitched as a "script reading." Or a "private audition."

But more often, it's a trap. A trap to see how cheap a girl's dignity really is.

Alcohol is offered, even if you decline.
Doors are locked subtly.
You're told not to bring your manager or a friend, "it's more relaxed this way."
There won't be any script, just "something he'll walk you through privately."
He compliments your body before your talent.
He insists on sitting closer, "for the vibe."
You're asked if you're okay with bold scenes. Right after you say you are.
Your silence is treated as consent and your discomfort as immaturity.

And when a woman refuses to go, she gets ghosted. No callback. No explanation.

Simply put, "you were never serious to begin with.", Not my words, their words.

This isn't just shady. It's systemic.

In an interview with Hindustan Times (2024), Somy Ali shared her experiences in 1990s Bollywood, saying she was told that going to a powerful man's hotel suite was just "how things worked" if she wanted to succeed. She also recalled seeing women walk out of those suites early in the morning, used and discarded by famous actors.

Another Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra recounted a 2009 incident in an interview with AFP (2024), where a veteran director allegedly sexually harassed her in his hotel room. He started touching her hair and neck, like her body was part of the audition, forcing her to flee and spend the night barricaded in her own hotel room out of fear.

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has been vocal about this issue. During the News18 India Chaupal event (2024), she highlighted entertainment industry's exploitative dynamics, noting that male actors often invite actresses to their homes pretending it's work-related, when it's really just about testing who's desperate enough to trade their body for a role.

And it's not just actresses. Even male actors haven't been spared. Years ago, Ranveer Singh revealed in an NDTV interview how a casting director lured him to a private home under the pretext of a meeting, only to make suggestive advances. He walked away, but the encounter exposed how deep and wide the rot runs.

Exploitation doesn't discriminate, but most of the time, it's women who end up as easy targets. Why? Because they're seen as soft, naive, easy to manipulate. The industry preys on that innocence like it's some kind of weakness, like being trusting is a fault. And by the time they realize what's happening, it's already too late, she's either used, discarded, or labeled difficult.

The Arm Candy Contract: Silent Companionship Deals

Many upcoming actresses unknowingly become "arm candy." It's an unspoken contract.

They're taken to parties, premieres, and award shows by senior actors or producers. Their job? Look good. Say nothing. Be agreeable.

There's rarely a real relationship. But the image sells:

For the man: It shows he's still young, desirable, powerful.
For the woman: It creates buzz, photo ops, magazine covers.

But behind that, there's often emotional manipulation. Control. Possessiveness masked as mentorship.

These women are paraded around but never prioritized.

Once the novelty fades, they're replaced. Quietly. Brutally.

Nearly a decade back, Actress Shweta Tripathi had openly criticized such roles, stating, "I can't do a film where I appear in a song and then disappear. I can't be an arm candy." Her stance only exposes what everyone already knows but never says out loud, women in this industry aren't cast to perform, they're cast to decorate. As long as they can smile on cue, show some skin, and stay out of the way, that's all the role demands. Talent just slows things down.

In many parts of the world, high-end escort agencies offer services that align with the arm candy concept, providing female companions for social events, business functions, and personal engagements. These agencies operate within the legal frameworks of their respective jurisdictions and emphasize discretion, elegance, and companionship. Like Bank Models in the United States and Mona Lisa Models in the Australia.

The "Open for Adjustments" Code

When someone says a girl is "open for adjustments," it's not about her acting range.

It's a disgusting euphemism.

In casting circles, it means she's willing to make personal sacrifices, usually of a sexual nature, to get or keep a role.

As far as I know, the term is widely used in private casting WhatsApp groups.
It's passed around by managers who treat clients like inventory.
It turns women into commodities. A body they can book, trade, or drop, depending on the mood.

And the worst part? Girls are often unaware they've been labeled that way until it's too late.

Because the same manager who claims to protect you might be the one selling your name behind your back. They file your pictures like menu options. They don't care if you can act, as long as you can bend.

You become less of a person, more of a perk. And once they've had a taste, they move on to the next ‘adjustable' option.

Fake Auditions: The Bait-and-Switch Tactic

Not all auditions are real.

Many so-called casting calls are organized solely to scout new "faces" for less-than-professional reasons.

Here's how they work:

A call is sent out for a "big project."
Hundreds of girls show up.
They're told to wear something "casual but figure-flattering."
The audition is recorded, sometimes without consent.

Later, that footage is either used to pitch actresses to shady producers or to exploit them in underground circles.

These fake auditions have become more common with social media casting groups, where regulation is nearly impossible.

And the saddest part? Many girls leave those auditions thinking they failed, not knowing they were never being considered in the first place.

Reported by ABP Live (2025), a man named Rahul Dev was arrested in Delhi for pretending to be a T-Series casting agent. He tricked at least 17 aspiring actresses into believing they'd land music video roles. After luring them in, he took money under fake pretenses. T-Series denied any involvement and condemned the misuse of its name.

In July 2023, a 37-year-old casting director, Sunny Kumar Verma, was arrested for fooling women with fake Bollywood roles on Instagram. He posted bogus casting calls and took money from them. Many fell for it without checking facts.

Fresh Face Doesn't Mean New Talent

The term "fresh face" sounds harmless. Even exciting. But in many casting circles, it carries a different meaning.

It often translates to:

Young, ideally 18–21 (but agencies will lie about the age).
Inexperienced, so she's easier to mold or manipulate.
Unattached, meaning she doesn't have strong representation, and therefore is "available for adjustments."

Many casting directors casually ask, "Any fresh faces in town?" They're not looking for the next acting prodigy. They're looking for someone who doesn't know how to say "no" yet.

"Soft Work" and "Hard Work"

Another two-tiered term you'll hear whispered during casting discussions.

Soft Work = Non-explicit favors. Flirting, private dinners, hand-holding in public, "friendship" with benefits.
Hard Work = Full physical relationships, often long-term "arrangements" with producers or financiers.

It's sickening how casually these terms are used. Managers pitch girls by saying, "She's open to soft work if needed."

It's negotiation. Not talent assessment.

Portfolio Girl

Ever heard of a "portfolio girl"? On the surface, it just means someone with a decent modeling book or acting portfolio.

But in shady circles, it's code.

A portfolio girl is someone who is constantly rotated in informal, unofficial auditions for smaller roles, music videos, or walk-on parts, not because of acting, but because:

She's photogenic and trendy.
She's open to "non-standard terms."
Her agent pushes her as part of a transactional package.

These girls rarely get leading roles. They're used, not launched.

Dance Number Girls

Also referred to as item girls, but not all item girls are created equal.

"Dance number girl" is often a category used in casting calls for:

Special appearances in songs (without major dialogue).
Promotional events where a glamorous presence is needed.
Quick, high-visibility gigs that don't threaten the lead actress.

These roles often come with "unofficial expectations" attached—like attending wrap parties, private dinners, or promotional tours under supervision of the producer.

It's the most public-facing exploitation wrapped in choreo and glitter.

Floaters

The most cynical label of them all.

Floaters are actresses (usually newcomers) who are unofficially passed around from one production house to another for small favors, small roles, small rewards.

They never sign long-term contracts. They're used to "test the waters" before producers invest in bigger names.

They're told, "Do this role well, and next time we'll cast you properly."
The "next time" never comes.
They're often replaced the moment they ask for decent pay or script access.

Floaters are the currency of the casting underworld mafia.

Night Shoots That Have Nothing to Do With Filming

When a casting assistant or coordinator says, "She's open for night shoots," it may not involve cameras at all.

It's another euphemism for:

Private parties after wrap.
Client entertainment for investors.
Escort-style arrangements where the actress is expected to be "present" at hotel gatherings.

No one talks about this publicly. But insiders know exactly what's being discussed.

And the girls involved? They're told it's all "part of the grooming process."

Friendly Appearance

This phrase pops up in event contracts, music launches, and producer conversations. It's code for: "Show up, look hot, don't ask too many questions."

What it really implies:

Be available for photo ops with specific people.
Sit at VIP tables with financiers and bigwigs.
Laugh at jokes, play the part, and not make a scene.
Dress like you're selling something, even when no one told you what.
Pretend you're flattered when they call you "fresh meat."
Laugh at sleazy jokes from men whose names you're supposed to remember.
Pose for photos next to men who call you "baby" and forget your name mid-sentence.
Look grateful, even when your dignity is the unspoken entry fee.
Be flirty, but not too flirty, or they'll say you're "asking for it."
Let them introduce you as "the next big thing," even if they've never seen your work.
Know your place, but act like you're just happy to be there.
And if you're uncomfortable? Smile wider. The camera's always watching.

It's soft-core PR prostitution with no physical obligation, but full emotional compromise.

And most of the time, actresses aren't even told the full details until they're in the car on the way.

Contract Girl

She's not on a studio payroll. She's not on a film contract either.

A contract girl is bound informally to a producer or studio head. It's a "you scratch my back, I'll give you three item numbers and one role" kind of deal.

Common patterns:

Gets recurring roles in the same producer's projects.
Has zero auditions. Everything is "arranged."
Disappears once a new girl comes into the picture.

The contract isn't written. It's understood and brutal.

PR Dating

You've seen the headlines: "New Actress Spotted with Superstar at Private Dinner!"

It's not always love. Sometimes, it's pure marketing. This is called PR dating, and it's often fake.

Designed by publicists to boost an actress's visibility.
Used to spark rumors that help the starlet's buzz factor.
Sometimes includes actual dates or appearances, sometimes just staged paparazzi shots.

But the dark side? These arrangements often come with implied strings and sometimes real ones behind closed doors.

In an interview on the Australian podcast ,The Quicky (2019), Jack Ketsoyan, a Hollywood publicist, revealed that he had arranged at least two such relationships, commonly referred to as showmances, to generate media buzz and divert attention from negative press.

He explained: It's to be able to sell the hype of it, whether it's a concert, album, or getting people to go to see the movie, it's all about the hype at the moment. Ketsoyan further mentioned that these arrangements often involve "love contracts," legally binding the involved parties to maintain the facade of a relationship for a specified period, typically around a year.

Investment Girl

When a financer wants to "try his luck in the movies," someone introduces him to an "investment girl."

She's the bait; an actress dangled in front of wealthy men with a script and a smile.

He invests in a film because he thinks she'll be in it.
She may never even get the role.
Sometimes, she's not even told she's being used as leverage.

It's exploitation wrapped in ambition.

Part of the Package

When casting a film, producers sometimes say, "She's part of the package."

It doesn't mean she's a bundle deal with a good agent. It means:

The actress comes attached with something else—a financial deal, a location, or worse, personal perks for the producer.
She's included, not because of talent, but because someone powerful wants her around.

It's not a compliment. It's a transaction. And everyone in the room knows what it means, but no one says it out loud.

Vanity Slave

This cruel term is used by senior crew and stylists for girls who:

Sit for hours in makeup, fully obedient.
Wear whatever they're told without protest.
Are "available" in the vanity van if a "guest" visits during shooting breaks.

Vanity slaves are often intimidated newcomers, stuck in limbo, present but powerless.

How Vanity Slaves Are Kept in Line and Out of the Script

They're not hired for talent. They're kept around to look good, stay quiet, and follow instructions without complaint. No one says it but everyone knows their place. Here's how the system uses them without ever calling it what it is.

Makeup and styling obedience: They're expected to undergo extensive makeup, wardrobe sessions, and sit still for hours without a word. Comfort isn't a concern, just compliance.
Zero resistance: Their silence is seen as convenience by senior crew who want no delays or attitude.
Set decor: They enhance the aesthetic environment of the production, either on-screen as background talent or off-screen as eye candy for visitors, producers, or guests.
Media optics: If they look good, they get used for behind-the-scenes snaps or social media bait. Pretty faces with no demands.
"Available" in vanity vans: In darker corners of the film industry Mumbai, this euphemism refers to informal sexual availability. Guests (investors, senior figures, or VIPs) may be brought in under the guise of a visit, and the girls are expected to be "present" and "agreeable."
Power leverage: They're told playing along might get them a real role someday. It almost never does, but they stay hopeful.
Replaceable: The moment they ask for decent pay or even a script, they're out. Another one steps in, more obedient and quiet.

Vanity slaves serve a purpose. Keep things pretty, quiet, and under control. That's the only real use. They call it opportunity, we call it total exploitation.

I've seen girls treated like mute eye-candy, dolled up just to stand there and not speak. I hate it. It's disgusting. This is exactly the kind of shit I stand against. – Austin Shivaji Kumar

Visible But Replaceable

This is how casting panels label certain actresses in group chats or meetings.

Girls who look good on camera.
Girls who don't ask about pay.
Girls who aren't "connected" enough to demand respect.

They're used to fill the frame, not build a career.

They're deliberately kept in circulation but never fully launched and never fully discarded.

Producers love them. Because they're useful, disposable, and always hungry.

Friend of the Producer

It's the classic Bollywood euphemism.

An actress shows up on a set with zero experience, no portfolio, no agency. But she's in a prime role. When someone asks how she got there?

"Oh, she's a friend of the producer."

Everyone knows what that means.

No casting process.
No auditions.
She's there because someone powerful wants her to be.

And her job, beyond acting, is to keep that relationship going until she's either replaced or upgraded.

But let's call it what it really is. An unofficial contract built on silence, obedience, and control. These actresses aren't picked for their talent. They're picked because they owe someone something. And they're expected to repay that debt with loyalty, secrecy, and availability.

Often, they're given spotlight roles to justify the favoritism, even if it compromises the quality of the project. Crew members whisper behind their backs. Co-stars are forced to pretend it's normal. And talented actresses watching from the sidelines are told to "network harder" as if skill ever stood a chance against sexual politics.

It creates a power structure where genuine talent is buried beneath a pile of favors and fake relationships. Directors look the other way. Agents play dumb. Everyone pretends it's merit.

Some girls get cast without talent, auditions, or struggle, just because they're someone's late-night favorite. That's not filmmaking. That's pimping with lights on.

How They Turn Her No Into Yes Without Saying a Word

It's not just about fake auditions or hotel meetings. Sometimes, it starts with a party invite and ends with a girl waking up in someone else's bed, not knowing how she got there.

They call it "just a drink." Something to loosen up. Something to help her "feel the vibe." But what they're really doing is drugging her silence. One sip, and the night's hers no more. Consent disappears. So does memory. She Won't Remember, So It Doesn't Count

What they use is often a date-rape drug, thankfully banned in India, slipped into her glass when she's not looking.

She's called dramatic if she questions it. Labeled unstable if she speaks up. And if she reports it? The industry closes ranks. Suddenly, she's the problem. Not the guy with the pills. Not the party with no cameras. Not the friend who said "you'll be safe."

This isn't partying. This is planned exploitation of women and young innocent girls. Systematically designed to break her, confuse her, and make sure she never fights back.

And they dare to say, "She was asking for it." No. She was asking for a role. They gave her a nightmare.

She goes home carrying a body that no longer feels like hers. She scrubs herself until her skin burns, trying to erase fingerprints that left no bruises but tore her soul apart. She can't scream because shame chokes her throat tighter than any hand ever did. She deletes herself in pieces, her laughter, her clothes, her voice, because the world made her believe she asked for it.

The worst part is they laugh and brag about it the next day over coffee, "She was too easy. Didn't even put up a fight.", while she teaches herself how to walk again without collapsing inside.

Girls become stories. Trophies. Names passed around like party favors. One night of silence becomes a lifetime of shame.

The cruelest part? If she screams, they call her crazy. If she stays quiet, they invite her back. Because in their eyes, she's not a victim. She's a thing. A warm body to fill a chair, a bed, a silence.

And when she finally walks away? They replace her without blinking. Because there's always another one waiting. Young. Desperate. Unprotected. Just like they like it.

In January 2024, as reported by Times of India, a 21-year-old woman from Mumbai alleged that she was drugged and raped by a man named Heetik Shah, she met on Instagram. She said it started at a party where Shah kept pushing her to drink until she blacked out. She later woke up to find herself being assaulted. Despite her efforts to stop him, he continued and slapped her multiple times like her pain meant nothing. Like she was just a body, not a human. The incident happened at his friend’s place, and instead of calling it out, they stepped in to protect him. Because in their world, brotherhood matters more than a woman bleeding on the inside. She filed an FIR, and only then was Shah booked under IPC sections 376 and 323, but by then, the damage was already done, and the system was already late.

Time to FUCK the Couch – Austin Shivaji Kumar

For decades, women have been told to shut up, smile, and feel grateful. Grateful for what? Being groped? Being manipulated? Being treated like just another body on the shelf, up for sale?

They were told that abuse is the price of fame. That silence is survival. That saying "no" means you're "not serious" about your career.

Well, fuck. that. noise.

Silence never protected women. It only protected the predators.

Let's make this clear: The casting couch isn't just a dirty little secret. It's an open industry ritual. It's where dignity goes to die. It's where young girls are tested not for talent, but for tolerance, for how much bullshit they're willing to swallow just to be seen.

And I'm done watching it happen. We all should be.

If you're a woman in film, let me tell you: You're not the weak one for saying no. You're not the "difficult one" for having self-respect. You're not "less talented" because you won't open your legs for a line on a call sheet.

You're powerful. You're capable. And you deserve a space that values your craft, not your curves.

To the girls who walked out of hotel rooms instead of giving in, you're heroes.
To the ones blacklisted for keeping their clothes on, you're the future.
And to the ones still trapped in silence, you're not alone. And we see you.

Women don't need to adjust. The system does.

This system won't change because we whisper about it. It changes when we call it out, burn it down, and build something better.

So no, we're not going to fix the couch.

We're going to FUCK the couch. Break it. Burn it. And build a stage in its place.

And if you're a producer, director, casting agent, or sleazy manager still playing that old game, your time is up.

If you're done playing by their filthy rules, and ready to create with respect and integrity,

We welcome you at Halawi Media.

Halawi Media is a premier film music and video production agency based in Mumbai, built on integrity, and values. We don't groom girls. We empower them. We don't sell silence. We invest in stories that matter. Stories that live forever.

Our mission is to protect, empower, and launch careers without exploitation. If you're done with the couch culture, Halawi Media is where your clean start begins.

Let's make real cinema. No compromise. No casting couch.

For film, music, or video production collaborations, contact us anytime or drop a mail to Austin Shivaji Kumar at [email protected].

Have a nice day and Thanks for reading!