Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has backed choreographer Saroj Khan and senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary on the prevalence of sexual favours in the entertainment industry and politics. Shatrughan Sinha said sexual favours are demanded as well as given in both the entertainment and the political world.

The actor said in his statement, “Neither Saroj Khan nor Renuka Chowdhary is wrong. Sexual favours are demanded and given in both the entertainment world and in politics. It’s an old and time-tested way of getting ahead in life. ‘You please me I’ll please you’.”

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“This has been happening since time immemorial. What is there to get so upset about,” Sinha further added.

Sinha also went on to defend the choreographer and said, “Saroj Khan’s contribution to choreography and to shaping the careers of Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, and the late much-missed Sridevi, was invaluable. Saroj Khan is a legend in her own right. She often speaks from her heart and lets emotional correctness rule over political correctness. If she said that girls have to compromise sexually in Bollywood, she must be aware of what goes on.”

“I know the kind of compromises girls have to make to get into films. Perhaps Sarojji has herself gone through her own pain and humiliation.”

“As for politics, I don’t know what we can call the casting couch in politics may be the casting-vote couch. Of course, the young aspiring brigade is known to offer sexual favours and of course the senior brigade is known to accept,” he added.

Shatrughan Sinha believes condemning Saroj Khan for speaking the truth isn’t right, saying: “I am not saying it is right. I would never be part of such a compromise. But we cannot shut our eyes to the reality around us. Don’t condemn Sarojji for speaking the truth. Condemn those who create a situation where girls and boys feel they have to compromise to get ahead in life.”

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In her statement, Saroj Khan mentioned that being a prey of casting couch is also a personal choice. Sinha, too, mentioned the same in his statement: “What happens on the couch or wherever two people come together, is a matter of personal choice. No one is forcing any girl or boy to lie down on the couch. You have something to give and you are offering it to someone who is interested. Where is the coercion or compulsion?”