Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah EXCLUSIVE: Palak Sindhwani Claims Asit Modi Threatened Her, Saying, ‘We Can Delete Your Instagram Overnight’
In an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, Palak Sindhwani, an actress from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, made shocking claims about the show’s producer Asit Kumar Modi and his team.
The show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is in the news once again, and this time it’s about a big controversy! Palak Sindhwani, who plays the role of Sonu Bhide, has decided to leave the show after five years. Her exit made headlines because she accused the show’s producer, Asit Modi, and his team of serious mistreatment.
Palak spoke to Pinkvilla about the “breach of contract” issue. The show’s producers said she broke the contract by doing brand promotions. However, Palak explained that when she signed the contract five years ago, they told her it was okay to do ads. She also said she only received a copy of the contract recently, on September 19, 2024. Palak pointed out that other co-stars like Mandar Chandwadkar, Munmun Dutta, and Sunayana Fozdar also promoted brands, but she was the only one called out, likely because she planned to leave the show.
Palak’s Struggle to Meet Asit Kumar Modi:
Palak said she found out about the contract issue from the news and wasn’t told directly by the producers. When she tried to talk to Asit Modi about it, she sent him a message on September 14, explaining that she was very sick and stressed. She asked, “Sir, I am not feeling well physically, and this is adding to my mental stress. Can I urgently meet someone from your team?”
Asit Modi didn’t respond and told her, “No one can meet you before Wednesday (September 18).” Palak explained that working under such stress made her anxious, but Asit Modi was not helpful. He even said, “If someone is available, they will meet you,” which made her more worried.
She shared that even when she tried to solve the issue, she was sent to different people who couldn’t help her. This left Palak feeling helpless and frustrated.
Palak Recalls Having a Panic Attack:
Palak said that no one wanted to discuss the situation with her before September 18. She continued working for 5-6 days despite feeling anxious and confused. She remembered how people kept calling her about the contract issue, which added to her stress. One day, while talking to her brother on the phone, she had a panic attack on the set. Her brother noticed something was wrong and called a production team member to help her. The team member saw how upset Palak was but still, no one seemed to care about her condition.
Palak said that after several “sleepless nights,” she sent another message to Asit Modi to clear up the misunderstanding, but he didn’t respond. When she finally met him on September 18, he accused her of breaking the contract. She asked for an explanation and told him that her contract didn’t mention that she couldn’t do brand promotions. In response, Asit Modi said that every actor has a different contract.
Palak Claims Asit Modi Threatened Her:
Palak revealed that Asit Modi threatened to delete her Instagram account, saying, “Don’t think too highly of yourself because of Instagram. We have a strong team that can remove your account overnight.” She felt that the show’s team wanted her to give details about her brand deals so they could take a share. Palak said they never questioned her about it for five years but started blaming her only when she decided to leave the show.
After her meeting with Asit Modi, she received a legal notice at her home on September 20 about the contract breach. This was when she decided to get legal help and speak out. Palak explained that actors promote brands as themselves, not as their show characters.
Palak, who is 26 years old, said she was never allowed to take a break for health reasons and only got a day off for the meeting with Asit Modi on September 18. She shared that everyone on the set saw her suffering and mental breakdowns but couldn’t speak up because they worked for Asit Modi.
Palak plans to take a one-month break after leaving the show to recover from this traumatic experience. Her last day of shooting for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah will be on September 30.
Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or a serious mental illness, please reach out to a doctor, mental health expert, or a nearby NGO for immediate help. There are several helplines available for support.
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