2 hours agoAuthor: Kiran Jain
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Palak Sidhwani, who is known for her role of Sonu in 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah', recently spoke on many serious issues. During a conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, the actress revealed her decision to leave the show, the threats she received from producer Asit Modi and the harassment she faced at work.
Let us tell you, recently the makers have accused Palak of breaking the contract. Read the entire conversation:
Why did you decide to leave the show?
On August 8, 2024, I messaged a company representative that I wanted to meet him. He told me that he was on another set, so I should come there and meet him. I took my brother along because I didn't want to do these things alone. Going there, I told them that I have been thinking of leaving the show for a long time, because I am not feeling well and there are personal reasons too. He took this matter lightly and said, 'Okay, I will arrange the meeting.' If you have told us in advance, we will release you in two-three months. I agreed and asked him to send me his email ID so that I could complete the formalities. I didn't know what was going to happen next.
I reminded him several times to send him the email ID. After about 20-25 days I had a meeting with my supervisor. On 7th September I again said that I have already informed HR verbally and I am waiting for the email ID. Three months will be completed by November. But she said, 'No, you can't go first.' I explained to them that I was not feeling well and was not able to do my work properly. I want to leave the show without any trouble. After much discussion they allowed me to leave by January, but still I was not given an email ID.
What happened when you expressed your problems?
On the night of 13 September, an article against me was leaked. I was shooting at that time, and I was ill for several days continuously and was shooting in fever. I had also given my medical report to the production, but they did not care. For them it was, 'So what if you're sick?' You have worked before, you can do it now also.
When these articles were leaked, I called the company representative and asked, 'What is happening?' He said, 'I don't know, let's see tomorrow.' It was written in the article that I had violated some legal terms, but I did not even have a copy of my contract. When I asked for a copy of the contract, they said, 'We don't give copies.' I was surprised.
Five years later, suddenly they are saying I have violated the exclusivity clause. I've worked on this show for five years, and I've never even mentioned the show or my character's name on Instagram. When other actors can do this, what mistake have I made?
At this time did you try to get help from anyone?
On September 14, I messaged our producer Asit Modi sir, told him about my health and the tension I was facing due to these articles, and asked for help. He said, 'If someone comes on the set, he will talk.' I repeatedly asked who leaked the article, but no one said anything.
what happened after that?
On September 18, after a lot of efforts, I finally had a meeting with the production representative. He said that I had violated my contract, although no one had ever mentioned it before. All this was a big shock for me, because till then I had not even received any legal notice.
In this meeting, Asit Sir threatened me that he could get my Instagram account closed in one night. He said that he has a big team, and he can completely destroy my social media career. But instead of getting scared, I asked him directly why nothing was said before in five years, and why is all this happening now?
How did the matter of legal notice come up?
The makers sent a legal notice to my house on the 20th. When I saw it, I thought this was going too far. I am not afraid of their threats, so they are legally scaring me. My mom and dad were also at home, and this has never happened to me. Those people were also in shock. He said, 'How can your producers do this to you? You have worked so hard with them and you want to leave well?'
I agreed with Asit sir on everything. I told him, 'Okay sir, if you want me to stay for four months, I will stay.' I spoke with my respect. I sent a voice note crying, in which I said, 'Sir, please provide me your email ID. I have been asking for so long. I was sent a legal notice because they thought I was still asking for the email ID.
How are you planning to move forward?
We replied to the legal notice within seven days and told that I had verbally told the company on August 8 that I wanted to leave the show. He pulled it and made me run to meet several people. I was not aware of any contract violations, and their claims are false.
This entire incident has been emotionally exhausting for me. Even now, they are trying to blame others, and no one is willing to take responsibility. It seems as if I have talked about leaving the show, I am being targeted and implicated.
