Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s former director Malav Rajda reacts to the allegations made on Jennifer Mistry; says, “She never misbehaved with anyone ever”

Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal who is known for her role as Mrs Roshan Sodhi in the show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, recently made several headlines when she quit the show and opened up about her fallout with the makers and also accused them of s*xual harassment.

In an interview, she revealed filing a s*xual harassment complaint against producer Asit Kumarr Modi, Sohil Ramani, and Jatin Bajaj. After the revelation, the makers released a statement calling Jennifer indisciplined, lacking focus on work, having an abusive nature, and someone who regularly misbehaved with everyone on the sets.

Now Malav Rajda, the former director of TMKOC, who directed Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal for 14 years has reacted on this allegation in a recent interview and called all these allegations false. In a conversation with ETimes TV, Malav called Jennifer a happy-go-lucky person who got along with all the departments and people on the sets.

He said, “Jennifer is one of the most jovial people on the sets. She is a happy-go-lucky person and gelled well with everyone. Be it the technical team, direction team, DOP, hair-makeup, or the co-stars, she was on good terms with everyone on the sets with everyone. I’ve been on the sets for 14 years and Jennifer has never misbehaved with anyone ever in front of me. She has never ever been abusive on the sets.”

He added, “As far as the claims that are being made that she used to come late on the sets, I would say that it has never happened in the 14 years that my shoot had to suffer because of her. A lot of actors arrive late on the sets and we know the Mumbai traffic. So, half an hour late is fine. There were many times when we have extended the shoot timings of actors beyond 12 hours from our side. In the last 14 years, my shooting has never suffered because of Jennifer.”

He also praised the actress for her commitment and narrated how she would do her own makeup and hair sometimes to avoid delays, “There have been so many times when she has done her makeup on her own and hairstyle also so that the shoot doesn’t get delayed. She was someone who would sit together with all the actors including males and have lunch. It was not once or twice it was a daily routine for her. I don’t think anyone would interact and sit with a person who would be so abusive on the sets. She was very good and friendly with everyone.”

When asked if she was intentionally sacked from the show when she was pregnant, Malav replied, “These are the things that happen between producers and actors. These things happen in Asit bhai’s cabin so I would never know. I know that she wanted to do the show even during her pregnancy, she was willing to work. But then they had their reasons that when Sodhi is not there how will we show her pregnant? That was a different thing. I’ve no idea about the details. But she has never been indisciplined.”

Upon being asked about his wife Priya Ahuja Rajda’s exit from the show, he said, “I think regarding Priya it is better you speak with her because we both are individuals and our work profiles are different. It’s better you speak with her and ask her what she has to say about her experience. It won’t be right of me to comment on her behalf.”