Actress Shilpa Shinde shared that back in 1998-99 a Hindi filmmaker tried to take things further, she pushed him away and escaped.
Since the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report, several female actors from various industries have come forward with troubling experiences of sexual assault and harassment in the Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu film sectors. Now, in an interview with a news portal, actress Shilpa Shinde has revealed shocking details of her own experience, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by a Hindi filmmaker during the early days of her career. She told News18 Showsha that during her struggling days, she was asked to seduce a filmmaker under the pretext of an audition. Shinde shared that back in 1998-99, when she was just starting out, she was naive and agreed to do the scene without understanding the situation. However, when the filmmaker tried to take things further, Shilpa pushed him away and escaped.
Shilpa Shinde’s Encounter with Sexual Harassment Early in Her Career
“It was around 1998-99 during my struggling phase. I won’t take names, but they told me, ‘Wear these clothes and do this scene.’ I didn’t wear those clothes, but in the scene, he told me I had to seduce him because he was playing my boss. I was very innocent back then and went ahead with it. However, when he tried to force himself on me, I got scared, pushed him away, and ran out. The security staff, noticing what had happened, immediately asked me to leave, thinking I would create a scene,” Shilpa explained.
The former Bigg Boss winner chose not to reveal the producer’s identity, citing concerns for his family. “He was from the Hindi film industry, and I agreed to do the scene because he was also an actor. I’m not lying, but I cannot take his name. His children are probably just a little younger than me, and if I name him, they’ll suffer too,” she said.
Shilpa also shared that she ran into the same producer years later. He didn’t recognize her and even offered her a film role. She turned down the offer, but to this day, he has no memory of their previous encounter.
Shilpa, best known for her role in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, pointed out that many actors have gone through similar experiences. “This happens to a lot of people. Some have run away, just like I did. We actors talk about it, and I’ve heard similar stories from others, even involving big names.”
In conclusion, Shilpa said, “I believe that while many are approached in inappropriate ways, you always have the option to say no. You can choose not to be part of it. This happens to everyone, but you can stand your ground.”
