Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah maker called everyone on show his servants, tried to arm twist me: Shailesh Lodha 

“I shot for it and even recited a poem there. A day before the telecast, Taarak Mehta’s producer called me asking how could I be on that show. And the language that he used was not civil, leaving me infuriated,” he shared. Shailesh added that he was not part of a fiction show or playing another part. He was there as himself and the producer should not have had an issue with that.

The actor also opened up about how he had confronted Modi earlier because of the language he used. He shared how once the producer had called everyone on the show his servants in a derogatory way.

“I could not tolerate the way he spoke to me. A show is made by many people coming together and not just one person. I thus mailed him on February 17, 2022 that I would not like to continue with the show,” Shailesh Lodha shared, adding that he would continue to go for shoots as he understood how creators would need time to wrap up his part.

Shailesh Lodha played the titular role in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah for 14 years. (Photo: Shailesh Lodha/Instagram)

While there was no discussion about his exit, the actor said that his past payments were held by the producer, as a means to arm-twist him. He shared that Asit Kumarr Modi asked him to sign papers but Shailesh was not keen to meet him. The actor added that on April 5, he sent another mail stating that he had been shooting as a good gesture but now wouldn’t. He said that the makers were persistent that he signed an agreement, which according to him would curb his rights.

“Why do I take his permission before going on social media or speaking to the media? These are my basic rights. And why do I do it after I leave the show? The matter was never about money or payment but about how he spoke in an insulting tone. I had to go to the court and the settlement was done,” Shailesh said.

When Asit Kumarr Modi had addressed Shailesh Lodha’s allegations

Earlier, when Shailesh Lodha had alleged that the producer wanted him to sign some papers to clear his dues, and that he did not “bow down to the arm-twisting,” Asit Kumarr Modi has put out an official statement, in which he has said that it was Lodha who refused to complete his relieving formalities, due to which the makers were unable to clear his dues.

Taking to Twitter, now X, Modi wrote, “Shailesh Lodha should stop spreading wrong information about the recently concluded court case.” Modi also attached snapshots of the official documents of the settlement agreement.

He added, “To put things on record, Shailesh Lodha had refused to complete his relieving formalities and sign the exit documents. Pending which we at Neela Film , were unable to clear his dues. M/s Neela film had even deducted and paid the TDS on his dues as soon as his invoice was received. We had even prepared a demand draft towards his dues.”

Asit also revealed that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ensured that Lodha signed the exit documents. He wrote, “The honourable NCLT court through its order ensured that Shailesh Lodha signed the exit documents and completed the formalities in the court. Post which we released his dues. The very statement that he won the case is a wrong representation on the part of Shailesh Lodha, as the court order says that it was settled with consent. We are unable to understand his intentions behind sharing false information that too of a case that was consensually settled few months back in MAY’23. We would appreciate that he should put this to rest and stop twisting facts for his personal gains.”