Behind the glamour, lights, and dazzling events of Bollywood, often lurks a darker reality. Many have openly shared their uncomfortable and troubling experiences in the early days of their careers. Recently, actress Mouni Roy added her voice to this growing list.
Mouni appeared as a guest on Spice It Up, a show hosted by Aparva Mukherjee. During the interview, she candidly spoke about a disturbing incident she faced at the age of 21, where she was subjected to inappropriate behaviour, although she clarified that she had never been involved in the infamous “casting couch” experience.
“I never had a casting couch experience, but I did face inappropriate behaviour when I was just 21 or 22 years old,” Mouni shared. She recounted an incident when she had gone to an office where a story was being discussed. During the meeting, she was asked to imagine a scene in which a girl falls into a swimming pool, unconscious, and the hero saves her by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
What happened next left her shaken to this day. Mouni said, “Before I knew what was happening, the man suddenly grabbed my face and started demonstrating mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on me. I was frozen in shock and didn’t even realise what was going on. I trembled and quickly walked out of the room. That incident haunted me mentally for a long time.”
Although Mouni opened up about the traumatic experience, she chose not to reveal the identity of the person involved, whether they were an actor, director, or casting agent.
From TV to Big Screen
Mouni Roy first gained recognition through her role in the iconic TV series Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Her subsequent roles in Kasturi and Naagin made her a household name, with her strong on-screen presence earning her millions of fans.
In 2018, she made her Bollywood debut alongside Akshay Kumar in Gold, which marked the beginning of her successful transition to films. Since then, she has starred in films such as Romeo Akbar Walter, Made in China, and Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva, receiving praise for her portrayal of the character ‘Junoon’ in Brahmastra.
Mouni’s career continues to soar as she balances her television and film ventures, making a significant impact in the Indian entertainment industry.