Bollywood Baddie Shown As Casting Couch Villain

India's film capital was at the centre of a sex scandal yesterday after one of Bollywood's favourite villains was filmed apparently offering a woman help with her acting career in return for sex.

Shakti Kapoor, whose menacing grimace has filled many a Bollywood billboard, denied any wrongdoing and accused a TV network of framing him. The sting operation involved a female reporter.

Rumours of a "casting couch" culture have been rife in Bollywood for years, but seemed to be confirmed by the footage shown on India TV, a new station specialising in salacious investigations.

The clip purportedly shows Kapoor in a hotel room in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) telling the undercover reporter: "I want to make love to you ... and if you want to come in this line [of business], you have to do what I am telling [you] to do." Kapoor is heard on the 40-minute recording telling the woman he will put her through acting and dance classes before introducing her to top directors. He also names three Indian actresses who allegedly had sex with top producers and directors in exchange for roles. "So you have to do it just once," he says.

Kapoor told Reuters he had apologised to those he mentioned, saying he was "pained at the way the channel framed me".

India TV, which was started by Rajat Sharma, India's answer to Jeremy Paxman, has provided a steady stream of lurid tabloid tales, boosting its ratings.

In the last two months, the fledgling channel has aired footage of Hindu holy men sexually harassing female devotees and former MPs sleeping with call girls.

The recording of Kapoor sparked an uproar in Bollywood. The Film and TV Producers' Guild said it "is advising its members not to engage Shakti Kapoor in any work."

Industry leaders said the story was making too much out of very little. Producer Mahesh Bhatt said soliciting sex in exchange for roles was Bollywood's best-known secret.

"The rot is within us," he said, adding that Kapoor should only be punished with a fine.