Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar: Actor Palak Sindhwani has alleged that the makers of popular sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ have been harassing her, which has led to panic attacks.
Palak, who plays Sonu Bhide in the TV show which has been running from 2008, shared with India Today that the makers of TMKOC are exploiting her and forcing her to shoot for the show despite deteriorating health condition, thereby causing mental agony.
In a four-page statement, Palak complained that the makers are threatening to ruin her career and deactivate her social media accounts if she doesn’t continue shooting for the sitcom.
“Due to the harassment, Palak has been put under tremendous mental pressure which has further aggravated her health condition and on 19 September 2024, doctor advised Palak strict rest and treatment by the doctor. However, despite her critical health condition, the production house did not allow her any leave and insisted upon her to keep shooting for the said Serial and subjected her to inhuman treatment which clearly amounts to exploitation (sic),” the statement said.
“Since Palak already intimated her intention to terminate the said Agreement and quit the said serial in August 2024 itself, the representatives of production house, during a meeting held on September 18, 2024, with Palak raised for the very first time false, frivolous, baseless and untenable objection/contentions that Palak’s endorsements/advertisements amounts to the breach of the said agreement, which is incorrect.”
It added, “Further at this meeting, she was also threatened that the production house has the ability to disable her social media account and ruin her career completely”.
The actor also alleged that the makers did not clear her dues and started levying baseless charges against her when she decided to quit the show.
“Till date, Palak is not even paid her outstanding dues, which is over 21 lakh. This shows that the production house is in breach and not Palak,” read the statement.
A day before Palak’s statement to India Today, Neela Films had accused the actress of making third-party endorsements without their consent.
However, the actress denied the allegations against her and stated that the makers are making up baseless stories as she wanted to quit the show.
Palak will be working on the sets of TMKOC till September 30.
Actors Who Walked Out Of TMKOC Alleging Harassment
Last year, Jennifer Mistry aka Roshan had filed an FIR against producer Asit Modi for sexual harassment. According to reports, the producer was found guilty in the case.
Shailesh Lodha aka Taarak Mehta had walked out of the show in 2022 because of the producer’s inappropriate behaviour on the sets.
Neha Mehta aka Anjali Mehta called it quits in 2020 as her dues were not cleared.
