Since the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report, numerous actors have come forward with alarming accounts of sexual assault and harassment in the Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu film industries.
Actress Shilpa Shinde has now alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a Hindi filmmaker during the early stages of her career.
In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Shilpa Shinde revealed that she was once asked to seduce a filmmaker under the pretense of an audition.
She explained that she was “very innocent” at the time and, as a result, agreed to do the scene. However, when the situation escalated, she realised the producer was crossing boundaries and managed to push him away before running out. “It was during my struggling days, around 1998-99. I cannot take names, but they told me, ‘Aap yeh kapde pehno aur yeh scene karo’ (wear these clothes and do this scene). I didn’t wear those clothes.
In the scene, he told me he was my boss, and I had to seduce him. I was very innocent then, so I did the scene. That person tried to force himself on me, and I got so scared. I pushed him away and ran out. The security staff realised what had happened and asked me to leave immediately. They thought I would make a scene and call for help,” she shared.
However, the former Bigg Boss winner chose not to reveal the producer’s name. “He was from the Hindi film industry. I agreed to do the scene because he was also an actor,” she said, adding, “I’m not lying, but I cannot take his name. His children are probably a little younger than me, and if I name him, they will suffer too.”
Shilpa also recounted an encounter with the same producer years later. “After a few years, I met him again, and he spoke to me kindly. He didn’t recognize me and even offered me a film role. I refused. He still doesn’t remember me.”
The actress, who rose to fame with Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, went on to say that similar experiences have happened to many others in the industry. “These things happen to everyone. Some have run away like I did. We, as actors, have talked about it, and others have told me they’ve faced similar situations, even with well-known figures.”
Reflecting on the issue of harassment, Shilpa concluded, “When people talk about sexual harassment, I strongly believe that yes, you may have been approached, but you also have the choice to say no. You can choose not to be part of it. This happens to everyone.”