‘शो छोड़ने की सोचना भी मत…’, ‘तारक मेहता’ के सेट पर पलक स‍िधवानी का ‘शोषण’, बयां की मेंटल हैरासमेंट की पूरी कहानी

Palak Sindhwani alleges Facing Mental Harassment and Trauma: Mental exploitation at the workplace is a problem with which many people struggle. Recently, after the suicide of a girl working in a company in Pune, her mother cited ‘work tension’ as the reason. Even in the world of Hindi cinema and TV, stories of mental and physical abuse often come to the fore. One such story has now been told by actress Palak Sidhwani, who plays the role of ‘Sonu’ in the TV serial ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma’. Recently the makers have accused Palak of breaking the contract. Now the actress has announced her ‘quit’ from the show and has narrated the story of the ‘exploitation’ that happened to her. In her statement given to Times of India, the actress told how the makers of the show not only threatened her but also mentally tortured her. He also informed the makers about his health but still he was made to shoot for 12 hours.

‘Don’t even think, otherwise you will have to suffer…’
According to Palak, ever since she informed the makers that she wanted to leave the show, mental harassment started with her. Palak has times of India Told how as soon as he talked about separating from the show, the makers started threatening him. At the same time, Asit Kumar Modi, head of Neela Films Production, even said that ‘Don’t even think of leaving the show till May 2025, otherwise you will have to suffer…’ Palak told, ‘On August 8, 2024, I did Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Informed the makers about my decision to leave the show that I want to leave the show due to personal reasons. I told them that my health condition was also included in these reasons. Palak has been a part of this show for the last 5 years.

Mental stress and poor health all told
Palak further said that the makers listened to me and also assured me that there should be no problem in this. He told that I will have to complete the notice period of 2-3 months. I told him that I want to end this journey on a positive note. Then I also asked him in writing what process to follow to leave the show. The team member said that there is no need for written notice, he will just talk to Asit sir and send an email. When Asit Kumar Modi returned on 7th September, I met him. After listening to me, he insisted that I should not even think of leaving before May 2025. I also told him about my mental stress and poor health and he said that if I go before May, it will make him sad. On his request, I talked about reducing it by November. But he directly said that if left before May, there would be problem. I got up from that meeting and tried to ask for the email address. After all this I had decided not to stay in this show anymore.

Threat to delete Instagram account also
Palak tells that then she came to know that the makers have sent her a legal notice. He said that he came to know about this notice only through the call of the media. I was shooting when articles about it were published. I told him about my mental and physical problems and that all this was troubling me a lot, but he did not meet me for 5 days. The actress tells that ever since she talked about leaving the show, her exploitation started. Started treating me wrongly. I was very hurt that this was happening to me in the show where I worked for 5 years. They also threatened to delete my Instagram account so that I could not get offers for brand advertisements. Not only this, he asked me to tell the names of the brands that advertise to me and also tell the money received from them.

Palak has revealed that she will not shoot for the show after September 30.

Palak further says, ‘I am still shooting for him. He knows my health condition yet he is making me shoot for 12 hours continuously. So that neither I can do anything nor can I respond to the legal notice. I am being mentally tortured and these are the saddest days of my life. They are calling me for the shoot and making me sit for 12-12 hours whereas my work was only for 30 minutes. Palak has revealed that on September 26, she responded to the legal notice of the makers with a notice only. I have decided that I will not shoot the show after 30th September. I cannot work in such a toxic environment.

Let us tell you that actress Neha Mehta, who plays the role of Anjali Taarak Mehta in this show, and Jennifer, who plays the role of Roshan Sodhi, have also accused the makers of this show of mental and physical exploitation.

Tags: Mental Health Awareness, TV Actor, Tv actresses