NEW DELHI: Bollywood actress Simmy Antara Dixit has levelled serious allegations against a Delhi-based event organiser, claiming that he operates an alleged casting couch and escort racket under the guise of managing corporate events, weddings and private parties.
The actress has alleged that the organiser, whom she identified only by the initials “MC” and described as being based in Delhi’s Moti Nagar area, offered her event assignments that allegedly came with demands for ‘compromise’ or sexual favours.
According to Simmy, the alleged approach began through one of the event organiser’s agents, as the organiser himself reportedly avoids dealing directly with female performers. The actress said she was initially contacted for what appeared to be a legitimate opportunity to perform dance shows at corporate events.
She recalled that the remuneration offered was unusually high, prompting her curiosity.
However, Simmy alleged that the true nature of the assignment was disclosed shortly afterwards.
According to the actress, the agent allegedly explained that besides performing at the event, she would also have to spend “quality time” with the client, which she interpreted as a demand for sexual services.
Rather than ending the conversation immediately, Simmy claimed she decided to gather evidence.
“I have the video footage of the sting operation. I wanted to teach them a lesson. This man was boasting that he has more than 200 ‘girls’ working for him in Delhi and hence I managed to get every thing recorded,” she told this reporter.
The accused organiser has not publicly responded to the allegations and we have left off his real name from this article.
The actress further alleged that the practice extends far beyond a single individual and reflects a larger underground network operating in major metropolitan cities. “This happens in several cities, this is not a Delhi thing alone,” she said.
“Simmy has alleged that it is a big racket in Delhi and even in the other metros. Aspiring actors, models and influencers are offered work and subtly later on told that they have to ‘compromise’ with the client for which they are paid handsomely.”
She drew comparisons with the long-discussed issue of the casting couch in the entertainment industry but claimed that similar exploitation has now spread into the event management business.
“Earlier, decades ago, as revealed by several persons, film producers demanded ‘compromise’ from female actors for giving them lead roles. Tv producers also demand the same thing. But this is surprising – for a Rs 10,000/- per day assignment, these event organisers and event managers tell girls to ‘compromise’,” Simmy revealed.
According to the actress, many newcomers enter the industry hoping to build careers in modelling, acting or influencing on social media, making them particularly vulnerable to promises of work and financial incentives. She alleged that once performers agree to an assignment, they are gradually pressured into accepting demands that were never disclosed initially at the time of hiring or were only vaguely hinted at.
Simmy also made startling claims regarding high-profile weddings and private celebrations.
Elaborating further she explained – there are these big fat weddings, but do you know that at many of these expensive bachelor parties and weddings, call girls, disguised as crew or staff are hired to entertain male guests. In some cases, male entertainers or gigolos are also hired to ‘please’ female guests and are paid hefty amounts.
While such allegations have periodically surfaced over the years, they remain difficult to substantiate because of the private nature of such gatherings and the reluctance of victims or witnesses to come forward. But Simmy says she has ‘solid proof’.
The actress further alleged that intermediaries or dalals involved in arranging such services earn significant commissions.
“Society has degraded to such an extent. As actors, we work hard daily, but this is the other side of the coin. Some women make Rs 2,00,000/- for an hour’s services at such big events and event organisers like MC of Moti Nagar in Delhi haul in the moolah with 50 percent commissions from such ‘fixing’ work,” Simmy stated.
The allegations have once again drawn attention to concerns about exploitation within segments of the entertainment and event management business. Experts have often pointed out that aspiring performers are particularly susceptible to fraudulent offers because of the highly competitive nature of the profession and the absence of formal recruitment mechanisms.
As of now, no official complaint regarding the allegations was made. If a formal complaint is filed, investigators would likely examine the purported recordings and other evidence cited by the actress Simmy Antara Dixit and we will accordingly file one more story on the new developments.