The makers have issued a formal notice to Palak Sindhwani, who portrays the character of Sonu Bhide in the show
In its response, Palak intended that she would be exiting the show very soon, which would mark another exit of any actor or actress from such a long-running show.
Earlier, actress Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, lodged a formal complaint against producer Asit Modi, operation head Sohail Ramani and executive producer Jatin Bajaj alleging that they had tried to flirt with her and offered sexual advances.
However, Jennifer won the hearing, and Asit was mandated to give her the remaining Rs. five lakh in addition to paying off her outstanding debts. But later, while showing her disapproval towards the verdict Jennifer said, “I believe a woman’s reputation matters most. It’s been over 40 days, and I still haven’t received my due amount, which I earned through hard work on the serial. Despite proving Mr Modi guilty of sexual harassment, no punishment has been given to all three accused.”
“Sohil and Jatin weren’t included in the verdict, which disappoints me. The local committee ordered my due amount, which I deserve. This verdict clears that my case was not fabricated and I wasn’t seeking cheap publicity. While I’m glad my harassment was recognised, I don’t feel I’ve received proper justice yet.” She concluded.
Before Jennifer, actor Shailesh Lodha, who played the role of the titular character in the show, alleged the makers of not paying his complete dues, which resulted in their legal battle. In the year 2023, Shailesh won the case and the makers were subjected to pay the complete amount.
The show premiered on July 28, 2008 on the Sony SAB channel and is currently available on the Sony LIV platform.
Palak Sindhwani, known for playing Sonu Bhide in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has found herself in a legal battle with the show’s production house, Neela Film Productions. The actress has been served a legal notice for allegedly breaching her contract by engaging in unauthorized third-party endorsements and appearances without the required written consent. According to the production house, these actions violated the exclusivity clause of her agreement and caused harm to her character, the show, and the company.
Palak, however, has denied the accusations and claims the makers are making her exit difficult. She revealed that she had informed the production house on August 8 about her decision to quit the show for health reasons and professional growth. Despite her resignation notice, Palak said the makers delayed the process and promised to send her an official email to submit her resignation letter, which never arrived.
In her statement, Palak also mentioned that she had signed the contract five years ago and was only provided with a copy on September 19, 2024, after the legal notice. She further explained that the production house had previously allowed her to engage in brand endorsements, particularly after the pandemic, and never raised any concerns until she announced her departure from the show.
Palak has sought legal advice and intends to protect her career while continuing discussions with the production house. She expressed disappointment over how the situation has been handled, calling it exploitation after her long-term association with the show. As the legal process unfolds, the actress remains determined to resolve the matter on fair terms.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
