Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal aka Mrs. Roshan Sodhi accuses producer Asit Kumarr Modi of s*xual harassment; quits Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, who essays the role of Mrs. Roshan Singh Sodhi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has filed a complaint against producer Asit Modi, Project Head Sohail Ramani and executive producer Jatin Bajaj of alleged s*xual harassment at the workplace.
According to the reports, Jennifer has also stopped shooting for the show two months ago. She left the sets after being ‘insulted by Sohail and executive producer Jatin Bajaj’.
During an interview with ETimes TV, when asked about it, the actress revealed, “Yes, I’ve left the show. It is right that I shot my last episode of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah on March 6 this year. I had to leave the sets as I was subjected to humiliation and insult at the hands of Mr Sohil Ramani and the other executive producer Jatin Bajaj.”
When asked about what transpired on her last day on Taarak Mehta sets, she said, “It was March 7, my marriage anniversary and Holi when the incident happened. I was asked to get off the sets four times by Sohail Ramani and the executive producer tried to stop my car by standing behind it and was not allowing me to leave the sets. I told them I worked on the show for 15 years and they couldn’t forcefully stop me and while I was leaving Sohil threatened me. I have filed a case of s*xual harassment against Asit Kumarr Modi, Sohail Ramani and Jatin Bajaj.”
She added, “On the last day, March 7 it was Holi and my anniversary. I had informed them in advance that I want a half day since my daughter really looks forward to that day. She waits for Holi. I even gave them an option that just gives me a two hours break, I’ll be back. They made adjustments for everyone except for me. I kept requesting them but they did not listen. They adjusted for all the male actors. It is an extremely male-chauvinistic place. That’s when I retaliated and Sohail spoke to me rudely asking me to get out almost four times. Then the creative person Jatin tried to stop my car. All this is recorded in the CCTV footage. This happened on March 7, I thought they would call me. But on March 24 Sohil sent me a notice that I left the shoot and they are losing money. This was ulta chor Kotwal ko Dante. They wanted to scare me. On April 4, I replied to them on WhatsApp that I was subjected to s*xual harassment, I sent a draft and they reverted to me saying I was trying to extort money from them. I decided that day, I want a public apology. I took the help of a lawyer. On April 8th, I sent a notice to Asit Modi, Sohil Ramani, and Jatin Bajaj and also mailed and sent a registry to all the government authorities. I have not got any revert on the same but I am sure they must be looking into it and investigating the matter.”
On being asked why she kept quiet for so long, she said, “I was quiet for two months and did not tell anyone about this, and today also I was not ready to talk because the show has given me everything: name, fame, money and I am very grateful for it. But whatever I have gone through in all these years people should know about it. Every person on Taarak Mehta is a bonded laborer.”
Narrating other incidents that have happened with her in the past, Jennifer said, “There have been many incidents which have happened in the past which I have let go thinking that things will change. Khoon ka ghoot peekar I’ve ignored. Like during pregnancy, I didn’t want to leave the show, they sacked me because Gurucharan Singh (who had earlier played Roshan Sodhi) was leaving. I requested them a number of times and even suggested alternate storylines but they made me leave the show. I was ready to work till the 9 months of my pregnancy but they asked me to leave. There have been many incidents when Sohail deducted my half day’s salary even after working for 15 years. I had informed them well in advance of a half day but they purposely called me at my logout time and when I protested they deducted my half-day money. When we complain to Asit Modi he refuses to interfere. There has been continuous mental and s*xual harassment.”
Jennifer, who has filed a s*xual harassment case, claimed, “Asit Modi has made s*xual advances towards me many times in the past. Initially, I ignored all his statements because of fear of losing out on work. But it is enough now I won’t take it anymore. They tried to forcefully stop me on the sets and were shutting the gates and not allowing me to go out. I sent the complaint mail to authorities a month back but haven’t got any revert. I am sure they must be looking into it and working towards the care. I am sure they must be investigating. I have hired a lawyer and I know I will get justice very soon.”
She added, “I have given my 15 years to the show and if I am treated like this on the set so just imagine what they must be doing to the newcomers of junior artists.”
