Shakti Main Shakti Hai?
So don’t know how many of you have heard about Shakti Kapoor and his shameful act. Here are the quick details.
Shakti Kapoor, famous bad man of yesteryear Bollywood, was caught on video by India TV, an Indian TV channel, asking an
inspiringaspiring (thanks Rashu dear) actress to basically have sex with him in order for her to get a break in Bollywood. This is known as the “casting couch” where the director/producer casts you if you get on the couch with him (atleast that’s my interpretation of it). Disgusting isn’t it?
Now the gory details.
Shakti claims that he has been framed and that the channel has edited out parts of the conversation and that it was the girl was also being pervasive and got him drunk. He claims that the girl had been SMSing him and calling him on the phone for the past six months to get a role (assumedly Shakti is making a movie, that’s news to me
). So finally she asked him to meet her @ this hotel, that’s where he showed up (with a briefcase only, he says), and that’s where this was secretly videotaped.
The girl was actually an undercover journalist trying to bring the “casting couch” into the limelight. Now what do I think about this? First of all, I can’t really make a decision until I hear both sides. So the first thing I did was see the video. Now you can download the video yourself (if you would like to see it), by going to the source of the video.
Shakti made a mistake. India TV also made a mistake. Who made the bigger mistake? Definitely Shakti because it was bad enough that he was asking the girl for sexual favors but then starts mentioning names of Bollywood actresses that have done it. He mentions Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, and Aishwarya :eyebrow:, I can’t remember and of course, can’t forget the big name directors that assumedly are the ones that asked for the favors such as Subhash Ghai and Yash Johar.
I think that’s where he went quite wrong because when you put other people on the line, you are getting yourself in deeper trouble because really, who is the junta going to believe? They aren’t going to believe Shakti, because he’s a pervert himself. That puts him in a very difficult position because now even his supporters will turn against him. No one wants to be alone in the industry.
What about his wife? Is she going to stay with him? What about his two boys? What kind of an influence is he on them, and how is this incident going to affect them? Is your career or your job more important than your family? For Shakti, it seems like it, otherwise he wouldn’t make a fatal mistake like he did.
India TV made a mistake because they did this in a way that seems too sneaky. If the fact that its true that the journalist was stalking him for six months, then got him cornered in this hotel room, and then videotaped him, then that’s not the right way to go upon getting news. Junta might think that this was done more for publicity rather than to get the bad news out.
Casting couch is wrong. I know that it happens and some girls will go to that extent to get a role in a movie, but its wrong on both ends. Does it really happen as much as one would think? I don’t know, but I hope not! Do the actresses that are big today do it? I hope not! But it makes me think because Preity’s response to Shakti’s comments were very vague. She said that he is a real life villain and should be banned from the industry, but she really didn’t respond to what he specifically said about her. If I was in that position, I would have definitely spoken out about my values as a person that I would never go to that extent to get a movie. I was just not impressed with her statement.
Was Shakti Kapoor really tricked or was he serious? Was he framed? I don’t think so. I think what we saw was the real Shakti Kapoor, a person with a pervasive nature.
What do you all think about this? There is more I can write, but I want to hear what you all have to say. Check out the video (if you haven’t seen it), read some articles about it, and come back with your own verdict.
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
March 16th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Punnu… I’m at work right now… so I’ll check out the video once I get home. And what’s this new India TV?!?!? never heard about it!! seems like they are following the tracks of tehelka.com though. And about the entire casting couch syndrome… I’m not too sure about how much of it happens in Bollywood(though I’m sure that a fair amount of it does go on), but down south… it happens A LOT.
March 16th, 2005 at 8:44 pm
and didn’t you mean “aspiring” instead of “inspiring” :p
March 17th, 2005 at 1:48 am
Shakti Kapoor is a shameless fellow
Priety gave better remarks… Villain in Real life too
March 17th, 2005 at 5:27 am
Oh.. I read each and every article on that incident…. The blame has to go on Shakti for uttering those big shots name. But, u said Preity’s remarks were not that convincing.. but, what I read in some sites was that these ppl chose to keep silent and not talk abt that matter atall… And I guess its better for them..
Moreover, today I read another man’s story.. Aman Varma, the famous TV anchor and actor in television serials….. It seems he ahs also been framed similarly and he has given a case..
Now, we r in for a real cat and mouse game… I guess
But, reg the India tv’s approach, I agree its wrong and by this they’ve gained big publicity…
Lets see where these all leads to…
March 17th, 2005 at 9:46 am
Related Articles….
‘We’ve many big names lined up for exposes’
Aman in India TV dragnet
March 17th, 2005 at 8:27 pm
ohoo this is really interesting news … actually I have read some articles related about this, girls can do anything just to get a role in a movie.
I like your analysis
It’s really a good one. Yeah I guess I read some articles about bad attitudes of Shakti. I haven’t watched the video, I am in the office at the moment. Definately I will try to watch it during lunch time or after office hours :) In movie industry, a lot of things can happen, people can do anything to get something.
What surprised me is there are some big names which mentioned by Shakti. I agree with you, we don’t know whether it’s true or not because we can’t believe what Shakti said anymore. However, about Preity, she doesn’t say much about herself … that’s interesting like you said :)
I will watch the video and maybe will write some more comments :D
March 17th, 2005 at 9:20 pm
The video is not audible…
March 17th, 2005 at 11:56 pm
I think everyone has been aware of the casting couch for long. But this is the first time it has been actually exposed. I also think Shakti Kapoor was serious. However, I saw the video and he talked about Aishwarya, Rani, and Preity. That shown on national television was something! He was probably just saying that to convince the girl!
Downright cheap. But hota hai. Kya kare!
March 18th, 2005 at 10:05 am
Thanks! Stupid mistake on my part.
I made the change and noted your name. 
Yes he is a shameful fellow Ankur.
I wasn’t really impressed with Preity’s remarks. She could have said much more. 
Very interesting thoughts Prasad. It is possible that Preity did not want to ruin her image with this hence kept it at a minimal. Still am not sure about it. I still feel a bit more could have been said. I read about Aman Verma. You think he was framed? I don’t think that Shakti was framed but am not really sure about Aman.
Yep the technique used by India TV was wrong. They really didn’t cover themselves at this point that they have released the video. In fact if they would have thought about this a bit more clearly, they could have gotten Shakti quite good.
Thanks Ankur for the articles!
Do watch the video Mona. I would love to hear what you have to say on this matter.
The casting couch is known that is happened, in a way its good that this has been brought in the open, but the way Shakti degraded those actresses & directors with no proof is just wrong.
I could hear just fine Ankur. Its not as clear as it could be, but you can hear what they are saying.
Haan sahi hai Kaush, hota toh hai, par kuch karna toh chaiye! Some action should be taken on this otherwise yeh toh hota hi rahega — which is not right either!
So let’s see what they do, ban Shakti, or do something else. 
March 18th, 2005 at 11:39 am
now-a-days India TV become new Tehelka, whatever Shakti said it was really shameful :evil:….you can also check my blog for similar post (my views).
March 18th, 2005 at 11:57 am
Really, Preity need to defend herself ina better way
March 18th, 2005 at 12:16 pm
This is the third time I am posting this comment…for some reason, every time I hit ’say it’, my computer hangs up:irked:.
Anyways…I really can’t believe that Shakti Kapoor is such a pervert. SKUNK:censored:!
As far as how Preity defended herself…I think she believes in ‘asie logon ke kya mooh lagnaa hai”:yes:. But yes, Shakti Kapoor should be banned from the film industry:yes:.
I am sure ‘casting couch’ is very common. The glamour of the entertainment industry is attracting so many young girls and those already in there (people like Shakti) are taking undue advantage of that.
I really don’t think what the TV channel did was wrong:no:. Afterall thanks to them that the true face of this ‘reel & real life’ villain came to be known to everyone. They might have done this to gain publicity for their channel…but isn?t it all about winning in this cat & mouse race. You have to gain a competitive edge to be better than the others (in this case the other TV channels).
March 18th, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Somebody told me, similar thing has been depicted in this year’s movie “Page 3″
Seems Mr Shakti got inspired
—–
P.S. This is my post # 200 on NP.com, where’s my gift
March 19th, 2005 at 2:20 pm
Went to your site, but didn’t see any new post.
Hope to see it soon. 
So you thimk that Preity’s answer wasn’t good either Ankur? Glad to see that someone also agrees on this.
I am sorry to hear Mannat that you had so many problems with submitting the comment, but I am glad that it finally came through.
It is good that they did bring the right light to the casting couch issue, but I feel that India TV didn’t do a good job making sure that no one points fingers @ them. They should have saved themselves with the issues such as that they cut a few scenes, the whole six months stalking, etc…Now Shakti is saying one thing…India TV is saying another..it seems that the job they did was good but sloppy.
I totally agree with you on what you said about the glamour in this industry. I think girls think that this is the best way to make $$, its a good career in the sense you are dancing/singing, in the elite status group by hanging out with top directors/actors/actresses, and then are willing to take any step to get there. Really sad, isn’t it?