Actress Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, renowned for her portrayal of Mrs. Roshan Singh Sodi in the beloved sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has emerged victorious in her legal battle against producer Asit Kumarr Modi over allegations of se*ual harassment.
According to a report by the Times Of India, Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal sought assistance from the Government of Maharashtra in addressing her grievances. Following intervention by the Local Complaints Committee, Asit Modi was found culpable under the Se*ual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013. As a result, Modi has been directed to settle Bansiwal’s outstanding dues and provide an additional sum of Rs 25-30 lakh for withholding payments. Moreover, he faces an additional penalty of Rs 5 lakh for the harassment inflicted upon Bansiwal.
Although the verdict was delivered on February 15, 2024, Bansiwal initially refrained from disclosing it, as per advice. Despite expressing disappointment over the perceived leniency of the punishment meted out to Modi, Bansiwal views this ruling as a significant triumph in her battle against workplace harassment.
The allegations against Modi stemmed from instances of inappropriate behavior directed towards Bansiwal. Additionally, she lodged complaints against project head Sohil Ramani and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s executive producer, Jatin Bajaj. Subsequent to her departure from the show, Monaz Mevawalla assumed the role of Mrs. Roshan Singh Sodhi.
Further complications arose concerning the working conditions faced by child actors on the show, particularly the “Tapu Sena,” including Bhavya Gandhi, Jheel Mehta, Samay Shah, Kush Shah, and Azhar Shaikh. It was reported that these young actors were compelled to work late into the night, even on days preceding their examinations, with some of them proceeding directly from filming to their exams.
In light of actress Disha Vakani’s absence from the show, former director Malav Rajda remarked on a noticeable shift in the narrative focus. He suggested that male characters such as Bhide, Jethalal, and Popatlal received greater screen time compared to their female counterparts.