Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Priya Ahuja says she is ‘shocked’ nobody supported Jennifer Mistry: ‘She had many close friends’

After Jennifer Mistry's claims against Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah producers hit headlines, actor Priya Ahuja and ex-TMKOC director Malav Rajde addressed the lack of support from the show's team.

Priya Ahuja opened up about Jennifer Mistry's exit from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. (Photo: Priya, Jennifer/Instagram)

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Comedy show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah found itself in a series of controversies after a number of actors said the makers mistreated them on the sets. There were allegations of toxic work culture, harassment – mentally and sexually, and even threats of spoiling their careers.

Priya Ahuja, who played Rita Reporter in the show, also opened up about the ongoing controversies and shared how she is shocked no one supported Jennifer Mistry. As readers would know, it was Jennifer’s explosive interview that opened the can of worms.

“I am very shocked nobody supported Jennifer as she had many close friends on the sets of the show. She was the one who was there with me during my depression,” Priya told ETimes.

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In Premium | Toxic work environment, sexism and harassment: Cast, crew open up on what’s ailing Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah?

She also added how Jennifer even helped her with meditation and played a role in getting her close to Malav Rajde (former director of the show). Priya added that she can confirm that Jennifer was never abusive or indisciplined on the sets of the TMKOC.

However, Priya’s husband Malav Rajde had a different take on the situation, and shared how he wasn’t shocked about how things panned out. He added that he had expected the same as nobody would want to ruin their relationships with the makers and hence would not take a stand for Jennifer.

The director said, “I wasn’t shocked at all as the person who is working there wouldn’t want to ruin their relationships.”

Also Read | Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah star Monika Bhadoriya says actors are ‘tortured’ on the set: ‘There’s a lot of negativity’

Priya and Malav met on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, fell in love and tied the knot in 2011. Malav exited the show earlier this year and Priya, in an earlier chat with indianexpress.com, shared that the team kind of broke all ties with her after that. However, her issues with the production company started way back and escalated in 2020, after shoots resumed post the lockdown.

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The actor said the team never called her back after the shoot resumed. Given her child was young, she wanted to work in a known environment and was thus keen to return to TMKOC, rather than take up a new show. A number of calls and messages to Asit Modi and the team went unanswered or got cold replies. “Once Malav left the show, they seemed to have outcast me too. I waited for some time but had to take up work, and thus signed a new show (Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin). After giving so many years to the show, I should have been given that basic respect.”

Apart from Priya Ahuja, Malav Rajde, Jennifer Mistry, Monica Bhaudaria also spoke about being ‘tortured’ and pushed towards suicidal thoughts by the makers.

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