On June 11, 2025, Abhishek Kumar, the runner-up of Bigg Boss 17 and a popular television actor known for his role in Udaariyaan, bravely shared a harrowing casting couch experience from his early days in Mumbai, revealing how it left him traumatized and contemplating suicide. In candid interviews with Pinkvilla and Bharti Singh’s podcast, the 29-year-old actor recounted the disturbing incident that occurred in 2018, just 1.5–2 months after arriving in the city to pursue his acting dreams, shedding light on the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry.
In This Article:
A Traumatic Encounter in the City of Dreams
Abhishek, a mechanical engineer by training, moved to Mumbai in 2018 without his family’s knowledge, lying to them that he was in Delhi for training. His father had strongly opposed his acting ambitions, even physically disciplining him for it. Determined to chase his dreams, Abhishek arrived in Mumbai with high hopes but faced a rude awakening. In a conversation with Pinkvilla, he recalled, “Voh kareeb 6 months mei aaya tha. Toh mere sath ek incident ho gaya, gay tha koi jo touchy touchy sa ho gaya tha” (It happened about 1.5–2 months after I arrived. A gay person got touchy with me). The individual allegedly suggested that Abhishek would need to “compromise” to succeed in the industry, saying, “Tuje aisa karna padega, tabhi tu aage badh sakta hai” (You have to do this to move forward).
The incident occurred during what Abhishek later realized was a fake casting call. On Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, he shared how he fumbled through an audition yet was selected, raising his suspicions. “I had fumbled at least 10 times during it and still, I was selected. So I wondered how it happened. Then I thought maybe it was because of my looks, but it was all fake,” he said. The inappropriate physical contact and manipulative tactics left him deeply shaken. “I got scared, I could not process what was happening,” he told Pinkvilla, adding that he had heard of casting couch incidents in interviews but never imagined facing one himself.
A Tearful Return Home
Traumatized, Abhishek decided to flee Mumbai immediately. He contacted his mother, tearfully recounting the incident while withholding that he was in Mumbai. “Maine ghar pe nahi bataya tha mai Mumbai mei hu. Maine kaha tha mei Delhi mei training kar rha hu” (I didn’t tell my family I was in Mumbai; I said I was training in Delhi), he explained. His mother urged him to return home, and Abhishek booked a general compartment train ticket, traveling back to his hometown in Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, in tears. “I was sitting in the general compartment, rota rota vapis ghar jaa rha hu” (I was crying as I went back home), he recalled. The experience was so distressing that he felt suicidal, fearing judgment and struggling to process the ordeal. “I was in such a situation that I would have committed suicide because who could I go and tell?” he shared on the podcast.
Rebuilding Resilience and Returning to Acting
The casting couch incident shattered Abhishek’s confidence, leading him to abandon his acting aspirations temporarily. Back home, he took a job paying just ₹7,000 a month, a stark contrast to his dreams of stardom. However, his passion for acting persisted. After months of healing, supported by his family, Abhishek returned to Mumbai, determined to try again. His breakthrough came in 2021 when producers Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta cast him as Amrik Singh Virk in Udaariyaan, earning him widespread recognition. His role as Adhiraj Raichand in Bekaboo further solidified his presence in Indian television.
Abhishek’s stint on Bigg Boss 17, which premiered on October 15, 2023, and concluded on January 28, 2024, catapulted him to national fame. As the runner-up to winner Munawar Faruqui, he captivated audiences with his emotional journey, despite controversies like a physical altercation with co-contestant Samarth Jurel, which led to a brief eviction before his re-entry. His resilience shone through again in 2024 on Khatron Ke Khiladi 14, where he faced his fears in Romania, and in 2025 on Laughter Chefs 2, showcasing his versatility.
A Call for Change and Continued Success
Abhishek’s journey from a traumatic casting couch incident to becoming a household name reflects his resilience and determination. His story underscores the need for systemic changes in the entertainment industry, including stricter regulations, support for newcomers, and platforms for reporting misconduct without fear of retaliation. As he continues to thrive, with recent music video collaborations alongside Bigg Boss 17 co-stars Ayesha Khan and Mannara Chopra, Abhishek’s openness serves as an inspiration for aspiring actors to persevere despite adversity.
-By Manoj H