Kamya Punjabi also says that nobody is blackmalied in the television industry. (Photo: Instagram)
Kamya Punjabi, who is currently seen in Ishq Jabariya, called TV the ‘safest’ industry and claimed that there is no sexual abuse or casting couch here.
Ever since the findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report were made public, several actresses in the Malayalam and Tamil industries have come forward to allege cases of sexual harassment. A series of confrontations and allegations have left the nation shocked with many arguing that such heinous acts happen across the entertainment world.
However, TV star Kamya Punjabi has now come out defending the Hindi television circle. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, the actress, who is currently seen in Ishq Jabariya, called TV the ‘safest’ industry and claimed that there is no sexual abuse or casting couch here.
“Television has been very clean. I don’t know what used to happen in the past but now it is very clean. There is no such filth here. People aren’t forced or blackmailed here. There is no casting couch. If you fit a role, you have talent, you will be selected for the show. I feel television is the safest place in the entertainment industry. Sexual abuse does not happen here. Whatever happens, because there is mutual consent. Nobody is telling anyone to sleep with them in the promise of a role,” she told us.
Kamya admitted that some actors may be ‘womanisers’ but made a big claim saying things do not happen between two individuals, at least in the TV world, if there is no mutual consent.
“Some actors are womanisers but if you stop it, if you make it very clear, such things do not happen. Nobody is being forced to do this. Aisa nahi hai ke aapko haath lagaya jaaega aur aap uncomfortable feel karoge. If you tell them, ‘Hello, I don’t like it’, you will not be touched. We have seen actors who get crazy for girls but nobody forces nobody,” she said.
“I know of some people who say that such things have happened to them. But again, if a girl does not want, it will not happen. It does not happen in the television industry. I don’t know about films or OTT but it does not happen in TV,” she added.
Asked if things have always been like this in the television industry, Kamya mentioned that she does not ‘remember much’ about her initial career days. However, she admitted that cases of sexual abuse used to happen previously. “Aab nahi hota. Woh tab hota hai jab dono ko chahiya hota hai. Hume dekha hai, some actors get into relationships while working on a shot and makeup room mein bandh rahte hai. TV aab woh bechari, abla naari wale industry nahi hai. I don’t believe that. It does not happen here.”
Kamya concluded by saying that television is a “very safe place”.
