While celebrities usually shy away from the topic of the casting couch, Hate Story 2 actress Surveen Chawla makes no bones about it. However, the 31-year-old actress admits that she's only faced it in the southern film industry, not in Bollywood.

“I feel fortunate that I haven't encountered it here (Bollywood), I don't know if it's sheer luck but it says a lot about the progress the Hindi film industry has made. That said, I have faced casting couch situations down South. Of course I refused to give in,“ she says, attributing it to the fact that she isn't “desperate to find work“. “I am not desperate to barter myself for work. I am too much in love with my dignity and self respect. Work will bring me more work and that's my motto,“ she asserts, further stating that filmmakers now want to cast people on the basis of their talent.

“That's the right way. I think women are stronger now and makers who understand that and their love for cinema work well together. It's a great progression,“ she adds.