Shakti Kapoor is one of the most popular villains of Bollywood. When you are seen as the bad boy on the big screen, people perceive you in a certain way. From casting couch sting operation to his misconduct towards women, Shakti has been in the news for many wrong reasons.  

Back in 2005, India TV carried out an explosive sting operation wherein the female journalist met him disguised as an aspiring actress. His statements caught in the video created a stir in the whole industry highlighting the truth of casting couch in Bollywood.

He told the undercover reporter, “I want to make love to you… and if you want to come into this line (film industry), you have to do what I am telling you to do.” He then goes and names three actresses who ‘slept their way’ into films. He told how Aishwarya Rai had to go to Subhash Ghai and Rani Mukerji had to go to Yash Johar. He also mentioned the name of Preity Zinta.  

Here’s the video: 

The news soon spread like wildfire, and Shakti Kapoor was banned from the industry by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India.

As per a report in International Business Times, Shakti told the Film and Television Producers Guild of India that the undercover reporter met him several times and threatened to commit suicide if he did not come to the hotel room she had booked. Later on, the ban was lifted as there was no substantial proof against the veteran actor.

As he dragged Subhash Ghai and Preity Zinta, they later on bashed him in an interaction with PTI as quoted by Hindustan Times. 

"It is very sad that people like Shakti project our industry and seniors in such a bad light. I am sure our associations will take action against such acts," Ghai said.

Preity Zinta, who also has been blamed by Kapoor, said "this comment is made in a very poor taste and he is truly a person who has no respect for anyone and no honour."

"I am happy to be part of the industry but feel that one dirty fish spoils the whole pond. He is truly a real life villain and deserves to be banned from our film industry as there is no place for him here," she said.

Condemning the way the sting operation was conducted, director Sawan Kumar earlier told PTI, "Had the actor been caught luring an innocent victim, it was understandable. But having a journalist pose and enact a drama is different... It appears to have been staged to trap him.” 

"It is unfair on part of the media to blame the industry. A sensible director would not indulge in this because he cannot afford to put his entire career, reputation and work at stake for a single night stand," he said. "Moreover, how can the media trespass into private spaces? What the channel has done is wrong," he said.

We wonder what’s the truth here! Was he trapped or did he actually ask for sexual favours? Let us know in the comments section below.

View the full article