Shalini Pandey’s experience in the South Indian film industry is a chilling reminder of the dark side of the business. At just 22 years old, she faced a terrifying encounter with a director who barged into her vanity van while she was changing clothes. The actress, who made her debut with the 2017 film ‘Arjun Reddy’, recalls being completely shaken by the incident.
She had no one to turn to, having left her family behind to pursue her acting career. With no connections in the industry, Shalini was on her own. Now, at 31, she’s speaking out about the traumatic experience. Shalini says she’s worked with some “terrible and chaotic men” in her short career, and this incident was just one of many that left her feeling vulnerable.
The director’s actions were a huge invasion of her personal space. He didn’t even knock before entering the van, and Shalini was caught off guard. Her reaction was instantaneous – she shouted loudly, and the director quickly left. However, the aftermath was just as disturbing, with people telling her that she shouldn’t have shouted, implying that she should have just accepted the invasion of her space.
Shalini’s story is a powerful reminder of the need for respect and boundaries in the film industry. She’s had to navigate some tough situations to protect herself, but she’s determined to speak out against the exploitation of actresses. With films like ‘Jayeshbhai Jiger’ and ‘Maharaj’ under her belt, Shalini is making a name for herself in the industry. She’ll next be seen in the web series ‘Dbba Cartel’ alongside Shabana Azmi and Jyotika, and in the film ‘Idli Kadhai’ with Dhanush.
Shalini’s past work
Shalini’s filmography includes:
- ‘Arjun Reddy’ (2017)
- ‘Meri Nimmo’ (2018)
- ‘Mahanati’ (2018)
- ‘NTR: Kathanayakudu’ (2019)
- ‘100% Kadhal’ (2019)
- ‘Jayeshbhai Jiger’
- ‘Maharaj’
Upcoming projects
Shalini will be seen in:
- ‘Dabba Cartel’
- ‘Idli Kadai’ with Dhanush