British Asian actresses have ripped the lid off Bollywood's casting coach by alleging that they were harassed and lured into extending sexual favours to help make their dreams of stardom a reality.

When Chelsea-based girl Jiah Khan was spotted by Mahesh Bhatt, the veteran film director when he visited her mother, Rabya, a former Indian actress in London, and told her she had what it takes to become a star, the 16-year old girl could not believe her luck.

Invited to play the love interest in a new Bollywood film, the aspiring actress put her studies in London on hold and flew to Mumbai.

While emphatically saying that Bhatt was not among those who harassed her, she said "there was lot of harassment. I would check out my costume and be alone with someone who would then try it on me...I was told that there are thousands of actresses like me and I was replaceable. "

Jiah flew to Dubai last year and began filming her role as the shy girl who wins the heart of an Indian boy in the film Zaroorat, a song and dance spectacular.

But now she is back saying "I was harassed and people tried it on, so I walked out," she told the 'Times' newspaper.

"In one scene, I had to wear a swimsuit and jump around. I expected the filming to be professional, but some of the crew were whispering to each other and laughing. It made me feel uncomfortable ... It was vulgar," she alleged.

Jiah said she saw some actresses flaunting themselves at producers by sitting on their laps and holding their hands. Jiah made clear that Bhatt was not among those who harassed her in any way.

"It was disgusting, but maybe that's the way it works. You have to be flirtatious with the right people and make them feel that they are the most important people."

Jiah has now shelved her plans to become a Bollywood star and is working on a career as a singer.

Monica Richie, a 28-year-old British actress whose parents were Indian, was given a warning before going to Mumbai to beware of the casting couch.

Richie, who lives in Cranford, Middlesex, but spends half the year in Mumbai, said one casting director arranged to meet her at 10.30 pm at a hotel. When she refused, suggesting his office would be more appropriate, she was not considered for the part.

During another interview she offered to do a screen test, but was asked by one writer: "What else can you offer me?"

"If I had gone to bed with him I would probably have got the role," she told the newspaper.

Another British Asian woman, who did not want to be named, said that a famous Indian Bollywood actor had promised to make her big.

"It meant that he wanted to have sex with me. I said no, and he said: 'Look, God meant men and women to have fun'."

Tejaswini Ganti, an American-based anthropologist and author of Bollywood: A Guide-book to Popular Hindi Cinema, warned British women to be vigilant.