Entering the film industry is not easy, especially for women, who often face uncomfortable and unsafe situations. Comedian and actress Jamie Lever recently shared her own shocking experience with an online casting scam.
Jamie, daughter of popular actor Johnny Lever, said she once got a call for an international film audition. At that time, she didn’t have a manager, so she handled everything herself. She was asked to attend a Zoom video call, where she was told the director would take her audition. Since it was a big project, they didn’t share the script but insisted the role was a bold one, not her usual comedy type.
During the call, the director didn’t switch on his video. Instead, he asked Jamie to imagine a 50-year-old man in front of her and act in a way that would attract him. She felt uncomfortable and said she would only do such a scene if it was part of the actual film.
Then came the shocking moment—she was asked to take off her clothes on camera. Jamie was stunned. “No one informed me about this earlier,” she said. “I told them I wasn’t comfortable and ended the call immediately.”
After cutting the call, Jamie realised it could have been a scam. “They might have recorded me and used it to blackmail me,” she explained. Jamie said she was lucky to sense the danger and react quickly. She added that she had never faced such situations in Mumbai before, and what shocked her more was that they dared to do this even after knowing she is Johnny Lever’s daughter.
The incident left her scared, and she still feels uneasy thinking about it. Jamie’s story highlights the risks that many aspiring actors face and the need for better safety and support in the film industry.
