Aishwarya Rajesh Opens Up About Casting Couch Experience & Director’s Misconduct

Aishwarya Rajesh, who recently scored a blockbuster with the film Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, has been making headlines with a series of candid interviews. She has been speaking honestly about the challenges she faced in her career and the realities of the film industry. In a recent podcast, she shared a bitter experience from her early days that has since gone viral on social media.

According to her, during an audition when she was just starting out as an actress, a director behaved inappropriately. Aishwarya revealed that she felt intense frustration and anger when he asked to see her in “sexy clothes” and nightwear under the pretext of checking the character’s look.

“I realized his intention wasn’t about the character; he just wanted to objectify my body. I felt deeply hurt at that moment. It was even more distressing to think about how many others he might have harassed with such behavior,” she said. However, she chose not to reveal the director’s name.

Despite being of Telugu origin, Aishwarya first gained recognition in the Tamil film industry before entering Tollywood. Even though she comes from a film background, she worked hard to establish her own identity without relying on it. She intentionally stayed away from the “glamour heroine” image, prioritizing strong, performance-oriented roles and female-centric stories. After debuting in Telugu with Kousalya Krishnamurthy, she appeared in films like World Famous Lover and Tuck Jagadish, though they didn’t achieve the expected success.

However, her career took a fresh turn with the Anil Ravipudi directorial Sankranthiki Vasthunnam. Her portrayal of ‘Bhagyalakshmi,’ featuring a Godavari accent and brilliant comedy timing, won over the audience. Known mostly for serious roles, she proved her versatility with this film. Following its blockbuster success, many believe she will receive more opportunities in Telugu cinema.

Aishwarya also shared her views on the ongoing debate regarding women’s clothing. She mentioned that if someone suggests something about her attire, she respects their word to ensure others don’t feel uncomfortable. However, she clarified that she never interferes in what others choose to wear. “Everyone has their own preference. People wear what they like,” she remarked.