Aftab Shivdasani has always maintained a grounded presence in the industry. But behind the glitz and glamour of his career lies a chapter many don’t talk about openly. The actor once recalled facing the casting couch during his early days in the industry.
Revealing the Unspoken on National Television
Aftab Shivdasani and Vivek Oberoi appeared as guests on Yaaron Ki Baraat, hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Sajid Khan. During a candid segment, Aftab opened up about facing the casting couch early in his career. He revealed that a well-known figure from the industry would repeatedly call him late at night, asking him to come to a hotel. Sensing the inappropriate intent behind the calls, Aftab chose to distance himself and stopped responding. The Kasoor actor’s revelation shed light on the uncomfortable realities many newcomers face in the industry.
When Red Flags Became Clear
He further recalled facing the casting couch early in his career, during his transition from modelling and music videos to acting. He shared that a well-known industry figure had promised him a film but would repeatedly call him late at night, making him uncomfortable. Sensing the inappropriate intent behind the interactions, Aftab chose to distance himself and stopped responding. Though he did not name the individual, he acknowledged that the experience was unsettling and a harsh reminder of the hidden challenges many newcomers face in the entertainment world.
A Breakthrough with Ram Gopal Varma
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma launched Aftab as a lead actor in the 1999 film Mast, opposite Urmila Matondkar. However, Aftab revealed in a chat with ETimes that his casting had nothing to do with his background as a child actor. While still in school, he frequently auditioned for commercials just for the love of being on camera. It was during one of those ad shoots—a cola commercial—that he caught RGV’s eye, eventually leading to his big Bollywood debut.On the work front, the actor has featured in several hit films over the years, including Kasoor, Awara Paagal Deewana, Hungama, Footpath, 1920: The Evil Returns, and Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3. Up next, he’s gearing up for a packed slate with exciting projects like Welcome To The Jungle—Akshay Kumar’s multi-starrer comedy, Masti 4 alongside Riteish Deshmukh and Vivek Oberoi, and Kasoor 2, where he’s paired opposite Urvashi Rautela.
