Entertainment Desk— Well-known Marathi and Hindi film actress Priya Bapat recently opened up about a deeply uncomfortable experience from the early days of her career.
She revealed how a co-actor crossed professional boundaries during a film shoot, leaving her mentally distressed and at a complete loss for how to handle the situation at the time.
Speaking in an interview with Filmafare, Priya recalled that the incident took place when she was a newcomer still trying to navigate the realities of the film industry. The script contained a single kissing scene, which she had reservations about from the very beginning.
“Ever since reading the script, I kept asking the director why this scene was necessary,” Priya shared. “It wasn’t a matter of whether I wanted to do a kissing scene or not. My question was how it was justified within the narrative. I felt the scene didn’t fit into the story.”
However, following the director’s strong reassurance, Priya eventually agreed to do the scene, looking at it as an opportunity to overcome her professional inhibitions.
Discomfort on the Shooting Floor
According to Priya, the real trouble began during the shooting of a song sequence, where her co-actor went far beyond the choreographed intimacy. “During the song shoot, the actor kept adding unscripted actions. He was kissing me repeatedly,” she revealed. “Looking back today, I feel I should have protested right then. But I just didn’t know how to handle the situation.”
Priya admitted that she lacked the confidence at the time to voice her stance clearly, leaving her feeling forced to endure it.
The Harassment Extended Beyond the Set
The actress alleged that the discomfort was not confined to the shooting floor. The cast and crew were staying at the same hotel, where the co-actor continuously tried to contact her outside of work.
According to Priya, he regularly sent messages offering to teach her swimming, inviting her to dinners, and requesting to meet for breakfast.
She rejected every single advance. “I had absolutely no interest. I had never faced such a situation before in my life, and I believe no one should have to go through this,” she said.
Husband Rushed to Her Support
The movie was being filmed on location in Bhopal. Trapped in a deeply distressing environment, Priya would call her husband, actor Umesh Kamat, every night to share everything. Recognizing his wife’s growing anxiety, Umesh didn’t wait to be asked—he flew from Mumbai to Bhopal immediately.
He showed up directly on the film set and stayed by Priya’s side for three consecutive days. Reflecting on the past, Priya noted that this remains the only incident in her entire acting career where she was subjected to such an unprofessional and uncomfortable environment.
On the professional front, Priya Bapat is currently busy with new projects. She will soon be seen in the upcoming psychological drama film Dalimb: The Myth.