Compromising Situations: Casting Couch and Fraud in Tamil Cinema
Uncovering the Struggles of Aspiring Actors in the Tamil Movie Industry
In the dimly lit room of Theatre Lab Workstation in Chennai, a group of young actors gathered to undergo a grueling acting exercise. Among them was 26-year-old Ayinnaa Vaishnu, whose heart was racing as she stumbled through the dark, tangled vines of the jungle. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she strained to see through the pitch-black darkness. Suddenly, a glimmer of light pierced through the blackness, casting a harsh beam on her terrified face.
This wasn't a real jungle, of course, Ayinnaa was during a simulated horror scene, designed to push her to the brink of her emotional limits to create a truly authentic performance. For Ayinnaa, this wasn't just another acting exercise. It was a chance to prove herself in an industry that had been rejecting her for years.
"I came to Chennai eight years back from my native place Thanjavur just after completing my school. I love acting, drama, and long dialogue," Ayinnaa shared in an interview with us "My parents encouraged me to act but only till performing in the school drama. But when I told them that I will be going to Chennai for acting, they did not support me. Then I lied by saying that I am going to study in Chennai, but my mother supported me. However, my brother is the one who stopped talking to me since that moment and has not spoken to me."
Despite the lack of support from her family, Ayinnaa pursued her passion and began attending auditions in Chennai. However, she soon realized that the path to success in the Tamil movie industry was far from easy. During one of her initial auditions, she encountered a casting director who asked her to compromise in exchange for a role.
"That person told me that he is the PA of the famous actress Hansika Motwani. He even showed me the photographs as proof. Then he called Hansika in front of me, but I didn't know who she was before that," Ayinnaa recalled. "He asked me to come with him and said he will take care of me.
He even said that he will pay and spend money on me and groom me. This is part of the adjustment, which indirectly means 'compromise.' He also commented on my attire and said that every director, producer, and hero needs adjustment, without which you can't go on top. If you can't do this, then you can go back to your native place,” Ayinnaa shared.
According to Ayinnaa she was horrified by her experience and made it clear that she would not compromise her values for a chance at stardom. "I told him clearly that I am not going to do this, and I will never do this. Even after the meeting, he continued to call me," she shared. "I love cinema, but I can't do anything for cinema. Put me in front of the camera, and I will perform, but I will never do this compromise and adjustment."
The reality of the casting couch in the industry was then explained to us by insider Jayarao Che, who is a seasoned casting director like Jayarao who is a founder of Theatre lab and recently acted in the acclaimed movie Jai Bhim. According to him, earlier Tamil Cinema used to have strong women, but it's just used and thrown away.
“There is a queue of beautiful actresses who are ready to expose their bodies and ready to do semi-sex scenes and kinds of things to get a place in the industry. This industry is completely business, if any actress is ready to project her like them and demands good money in return then the producer and director gives that money to her '', Jayarao stated.
Along with female artists, several male artists are exposing themselves to Casting fraud. We met 20-year-old newcomer Prabhanjan who is learning acting and direction at the LB Prasad Studio Lab. He shared his experience of falling victim to a casting fraud in the Tamil movie industry.
As per Prabhanjan, he was offered a role in a movie by a studio called Green Studio Productions. Recalling the incident. He further details “They sent me a message claiming that I have been selected for a movie. Do you know the actor, Vishal? They said that I was going to work with them." However, the offer came with a catch - Prabanjan was asked to pay Rs. 2000 as per the "office card."
Despite some initial doubts, Prabanjan complied with the request and paid the money. He was then sent a certificate stating that he was now an artist and would be shooting with Green Studio Productions. Excited by the opportunity, Prabanjan informed his friends and family.
Things took a turn for the worse when he was asked to pay another Rs. 2,500 as advance for the shooting. After paying the amount, Prabanjan was blocked by the fraudsters and could not contact them again. "I was totally worried. He blocked me after that. His name is Sudhakar. My mother doesn't know about this. There wasn't any office for them. It's fake," he said.
Another two aspiring actors who came to Chennai to try their luck in the film industry became victims of a casting fraud. Surinder Singh, one of the victims, who came to Chennai from Rajasthan shared his story with us. "Six months ago, I saw my two roommates happily telling me they got a role in a big movie,”. Singh said. "They said it will take place in Kanyakumari, and the payment would be 5000 per day, but on the second day, my roommates called the director and were asked for money to buy costumes and other expenses, " he adds.
Surinder further states that his friends requested money from their family and friends, successfully preparing Rs. 15,000 out of the requested Rs. 25,000. "I warned them that it was a fraud, but they didn’t listen," he recounted. "They reached their target of Rs. 25,000 and transferred the money to the account of the director in exchange for the ticket."
The next day, the assistant of the director didn't pick up the phone and the ticket never arrived. Singh's roommates were waiting for the ticket to come as the train was scheduled for 4 in the morning for Kanyakumari. Despite numerous calls, no one answered, and eventually, the phone was switched off. For a week, they were depressed and had barely anything to spend. One of Mr Singh's roommates even sold his bike to get Rs. 16,000, which they used to cover their expenses for 10-12 days.
Surinder had a relative who was a policeman in Chennai, and with his help, Rs. 15,000 was returned to them. "Big companies don’t do these kinds of things," he said. "Whoever demands money is usually trying to extort the actors."
According to Gopi Rajendran who is a sub-editor and film reviewer for The Hindu, the biggest challenge faced by newcomers is the lack of a set method to enter the industry. While it is now easier to put oneself out there in the digital world, there is no sure-shot method to land a role. Wannabe actors resort to everything from Instagram videos to working in production house offices to get a shot. Rajendran also confirms the prevalence of fake casting calls that swindle money under the pretext of providing opportunities.
When asked about specific instances of casting fraud and casting couch in the Tamil movie industry, Rajendran cited the case of director Ashwin Saravanan, who tweeted about a fake Instagram account that was putting out fake casting calls using his name. Actors Arun Vijay and Sibiraj, as well as directors Karthick Naren and PS Mithran, have also called out fake casting calls on their behalf earlier. These practices have a significant impact on the casting process and the experiences of newcomers and aspiring actors.
“Bigwigs of the industry should come up with a database or an app that connects talents to the producers/directors so the middlemen can be removed from the equation,” says Gopi.
Jack Prabhu who is a founder of another acting studio called Raging Bull takes a different take on the struggle argument and dismisses the idea of struggling and states that there is no proper way to enter the industry.
Prabhu pointed out that while there are people who are passionate about pursuing a career in acting, some are simply driven by the desire to become a star without considering their skills. He stated, "Everyone wants to be a hero or heroine; no one wants to be an actor. This attitude is problematic." He went on to explain that many aspiring actors can be found on Shaligram Road, where they parade their portfolios and tell stories of their supposed struggles.
According to Prabhu, these individuals try to feel the struggle of established actors, believing that if they live through it, they too will succeed. However, this approach is flawed, as they fail to trust their abilities. Prabhu also noted that many aspiring actors join acting institutes with the belief that simply enrolling will make them successful, without considering their own skills. He emphasized that success in the industry requires not just hard work, but also a deep understanding and appreciation of the craft.