Actress Aishwarya Sushmita, who recently appeared in Disney+ Hotstar’s series ‘Bad Cop’, talked about her casting couch experience. In an exclusive conversation with India Today.in, the actress told that many directors and casting directors call her to meet at odd hours.

Aishwarya said that casting couch is common in the industry but it is not the only way to make it big. She highlighted how she never misses any audition and keeps working hard to not compromise on her values. The actress, who is also seen as Mita Devi in ​​the Netflix series ‘Khakee’, said that when she tells people how to survive in the industry without “compromising”, they find it difficult to understand.

She said, “I used to hear such things in my initial days in the industry. Different people had different stories to tell. I was still a model and hadn’t ventured into acting yet. Of course, these things affect you. People would tell me that ‘if you don’t sleep with them you can’t move ahead’, and that’s the only way.”

Aishwarya started her career as a model and also got the opportunity to be a Kingfisher Calendar girl in 2016. She talked about her journey from modelling to acting and said, “A magazine founder once told me ‘You have a beautiful face, but you should socialise.’ I was in my early 20s and these things used to scare me. I would never compromise on my values ​​and ethics. However, I was never scared of putting myself out there. I wanted to take my own journey. I was confident and wanted to follow my heart.”

She shared her experience. “These methods, of course, will take you somewhere, but they are not the only way to make it in the industry. I remember my experiences when people would call me and ask me to ‘catch up’ at odd hours, directors and casting directors. Only after a certain point do you realise their intention. Having said that, no one will force you. It is always your choice. Also, it is not just our industry. Cast couch exists in many other industries including the corporate sector.”

He said, “Many people in Delhi asked me ‘Did you have to compromise?’ And I told them there have been such people and such times, but you have to move on from that.”

Her series ‘Bad Cop’ has not received much appreciation. Many found the story repetitive and Aishwarya said she is ready to accept this criticism. “Criticism is very important. I will keep my critics to myself because they keep you grounded. My father is my biggest critic. If everything is going to be nice and happy, there will be no scope for growth. I know ‘Bad Cop’ has received mixed reviews but people have appreciated Kiki (her character) because after Mita Devi in ​​’Khakee’ they were not expecting me to do this. It has motivated me. It was very important for me to present myself in a way that is different from what I have done before.”

Aishwarya’s next film is also set to release on OTT, while she continues to work on making her debut on the big screen.