Ankita Lokhande was asked to ‘sleep with producer’ at 19: ‘Felt so low’

Ankita Lokhande, in a recent interview, has opened up about an experience at the age of 19 after which she gave up on her dreams to be a part of the film industry. In a recent interview, Lokhande revealed that she was offered a south film but she would have been signed only if she agreed to ‘compromise’.

In an interview with Hauterfly, Ankita Lokhande revealed her casting couch experience and said, “I had given an audition, I got a call saying, ‘You have been selected.’ I was supposed to go to sign and I told them, ‘Yes, I will come to the hotel.’ I even told my mother excitedly, ‘I am going and I will get the signing amount’.”

She continued, “When I went to the hotel, they called me in and asked my coordinator to stand outside. They said, ‘You have to compromise.’ I was just 19 at that time. At that time, it was like ‘I want to be a heroine and that phase was on.’ I played smart because I did not want to hear that I had to sleep with someone. So I asked them, ‘What kind of a compromise? Do you want me to go to a party with your



producers, finances?’ So I played it very smart so that I don’t get to hear that what they were supposed to say.”

They then said, “You have to sleep with the producer.” Ankita revealed telling the person, “I don’t think your producer needs a talent, they need a girl to sleep with and I am not that one.”

“That day I realised this industry or anywhere, I cannot give anyone the right to any person who can ask me that I have to sleep with them. I felt so low about myself that how could someone say this to me? That day I decided, I was not going to do films. I don’t want to do films. Because I don’t give rights to anyone, it’s dirty and then I decided whatever happens, I am happy with my Television industry. After that, I got this opportunity of ‘Pavitra Rishta’ and I happily did that,” she quipped. Ankita had become a household name with the show.

Ankita was recently seen in ‘Bigg Boss 17’ along with her husband, Vicky Jain. She has also been part of films like ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’.