Swara Bhasker Recalls Director Allegedly Pressuring Her Over Private Romantic Scene Rehearsal

Speaking on *Rise & Fall Season 2*, Bhasker said the filmmaker became increasingly interested in her while she was working on a major lead role in his film and allegedly attempted to create situations where they would interact privately.

According to Bhasker, the director initially told her that a filmmaker should develop feelings for his actress, a remark she said she initially dismissed as part of his approach to filmmaking.

She said the situation became more uncomfortable when the director proposed rehearsing a romantic sequence from the film without the rest of the crew present.

Bhasker recalled questioning why the rehearsal needed to involve only the two of them when the scene also featured another actor and required the involvement of the camera team.

She said she insisted that the actor and cinematographer should also be present if the purpose was genuinely to rehearse the scene.

The actress also described another incident at a guest house involving the director and cinematographer. According to Bhasker, both men had been drinking, and she questioned why she, as a woman in her early 20s at the time, should have been expected to participate in a rehearsal or reading in such circumstances.

Bhasker said the situation escalated later that night when the director allegedly came to her room and knocked on her door.

According to her account, when she opened the door, the director asked if he could hug her. Bhasker said she refused.

The actress also explained why she did not physically confront the director despite feeling uncomfortable. She said he was directing the film and that any confrontation could have jeopardised her role in the project.

When fellow contestant Tej Pratap Yadav reacted to her account by suggesting that she could have hit the filmmaker, Bhasker reiterated that doing so could have resulted in her losing the film.

Bhasker's account was shared during the reality show as she discussed her experiences in the film industry and the professional boundaries she encountered early in her career.

She did not identify the director by name during the conversation.