They accused me of trying to extort money from them: Jennifer
The actress, who has been a part of Taarak Mehta… for over a decade, says, “I joined the show in 2008 and later when I was pregnant, I took a three-year break around 2013. I resumed in 2016, after which there were issues related to payment and there was mental harassment, but I kept quiet. I often complained to producer Asit Modi about the non-payment of dues or half-day salary cut, but he would ask me to speak to Sohil Ramani.”
Jennifer also alleges sexual harassment in March 2019. She says, “We went on a shoot to Singapore on March 5. On March 8, Asit Modi complimented me on my lips and said they were worth kissing and also invited me to his room. I was scared and two of my colleagues helped me. They would always come in the middle whenever he came close to me. Even on the set, he used to pull my cheeks and say how sexy I was.”
The last straw, she says, was when she asked for leave during Holi this year. Jennifer narrates, “They did not let me take an off on Holi (March 7). They also tried to stop me from leaving the set, but I managed to leave. On March 24, they sent me an email saying how it had caused them an additional expense. All these years, I was using my own jewellery, footwear and make-up, so what are these expenses? I replied to their mail and shared the issues that I have had over these years. But they reverted saying I was trying to extort money. So, on April 8, I mailed my complaint to senior police officials and also sent them a notice.”
We terminated her services, so she is making these baseless allegations: Asit Kumarr Modi
The production house says Jennifer is making these allegations because she was removed from the show. Producer Asit Kumarr Modi told us, “We will take legal action as she is trying to defame me and the show. Since we terminated her services, she is making these baseless allegations.”
The directorial team members Harshad Joshi, Rushi Dave and Arman Dhanesha also released a joint statement to us which said, “Jennifer lacked basic discipline on the set and was not focusing on her work. We regularly had to complain to the production head about her behaviour. On her last day (March 7), she was abusive in front of the whole unit and left the set without finishing her shoot.”
Sohil Ramani and Jatin Bajaj, too, shared a statement which read, “She regularly misbehaved on the show with the entire team. When she left set (on March 7), she rashly drove her car at very high speed. She even damaged the set property. We had to terminate her contract because of her bad behaviour and indiscipline during the shoot. During this incident, Asitji was in the US. She is now trying to defame us and the show by making baseless allegations.”
Meanwhile, Powai police is looking into the matter. DCP Maheshwar Reddy said, “We have received a complaint application from Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal some time ago and we are inquiring into the matter.”