Actress Vidya Balan says it is thanks to her passion for acting that she didn't fall prey to the casting couch in the Hindi film industry.

"I'm very fortunate that I never came across anything like casting couch or exploitation. This was all because I was very passionate about acting, but not desperate about work," the National Award winning actress revealed here at casting director Mukesh Chhabra's studio.

"In all these years, nobody said any such thing that would hurt me. Most importantly, I didn't let anybody do anything wrong to me," she added.

Advising newcomers to safeguard themselves against casting couch, the 37-year-old said: It depends on you. Even if something like this (casting couch or exploitation) has happened to you, then don't be harsh on yourselves.

"...No role and no film is the end of the world. It could be the beginning, but it is never the end," Vidya said.

(Source: IANS)