Actress Surveen Chawla, who once appeared in the Telugu film Raju Maharaju, has shared shocking details about her early struggles in the film industry. Though she is better known for her roles in Hindi, Punjabi, and Kannada films, Telugu audiences may remember her brief stint in Tollywood. After Raju Maharaju, she didn’t return to Telugu cinema and continued her career mainly in Bollywood.
Speaking recently, Surveen Chawla opened up about facing the casting couch—a dark and uncomfortable truth of the film industry. She revealed that she lost many film offers because she refused to give in to inappropriate demands. “There was a time when casting couch culture was at its peak,” she said. “I was shocked to hear people ask, ‘What do we get from you in return for giving you a role?’ I heard such comments in many offices.”
Surveen shared how hurt and frustrated she felt, even wondering whether the pain was worth it just to be in films. She explained that her early career days were especially hard, but once she gained recognition, the situation improved. “During the beginning, going to a film office as a woman meant facing many forms of harassment,” she said. She also expressed support for those who spoke out during the #MeToo movement, saying that only those who have truly suffered would have the courage to come forward.
Although Surveen has not appeared in Bollywood films for the last eight years, she has found success in web series such as Sacred Games, Criminal Justice: A Family Matter, and Nara Naidu. She is currently working on a new web series, Mandala Murders.
Her brave words have once again highlighted the challenges many actresses face—even those who once stepped into Telugu cinema with dreams, only to walk away silently.
