Does casting couch exist? Yes, say these actors

Actors rarely talk against their directors. In fact, these relationships generally turn into great friendships through the years. But, sometimes, it can turn sour.

Like in the recent case of Pakistani actress Meera and her Nazar producer Mahesh Bhatt, where she accused him of slapping her and ruining her career. Meera claimed Bhatt was very 'possessive' and did not like her interacting with other directors.

Later, she landed up at his office and changed her tune -- she claimed Bhatt was her 'guru' and 'boyfriend.'

Bhatt's wife Soni Razdan, who directed Nazar, has decided to file a defamation suit for character assassination. Bhatt himself seemed quite upset with Meera's behaviour.

Here are some other actors who fell out with their directors.

Payal Rohatgi had accused director Khosla Ka Ghosla Dibakar Banerjee of asking for sexual favours in exchange for a role.

Apparently, the director insisted on going to her home late at night, when she was alone, and asking her to lift her blouse. She asked him to leave.

Later, the controversy spiralled as other directors like Anurag Kashyap and Sudhir Mishra supported Dibakar. Payal held a press conference to explain her side of the story. She claimed Dibakar used to visit a psychiatrist because he could not be faithful to his wife.

In 2004, aspiring actress Preeti Jain accused Madhur Bhandarkar rape; she also said he had falsely promised her a role in a forthcoming film. Preeti told the press they had sex 16 times. Yet, he didn't offer her a role.

Bhandarkar was booked by the Mumbai police on charges of rape, but was later granted bail.

Preeti was arrested the next year when she gave money to a gangster to get Bhandarkar killed.

In 2006, the police dismissed the case against Bhandarkar, citing it as a false accusation.

Mamta Kulkarni had accused Rajkumar Santoshi of asking her for sexual favours on the sets of China Gate. When she refused, he cut her role.

Santoshi denied all rumours and Mamta -- who was in the midst of another controversy because she had posed topless for a magazine cover -- lost on important roles in Bollywood. Her career was abruptly cut short.

Aspiring actor Yuvraj Parashar accused director Onir of molesting him. Onir denied the charges and claimed the encounter took place by mutual consent.

Yuvraj claimed he went to Onir's home and the two watched a movie together. They drank a couple of glasses of wine and later went to Onir's bedroom. That, apparently, was where Onir 'pounced' on him.

Onir later claimed Yuvraj went to the media for publicity.