TV actress Sonal Vengurlekar calls out photographer Raja Bajaj for sexual harassment in 2012, when she was trying to gain a foothold in the industry
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 24, 2018)

After TV personalities like writer-producer Vinta Nanda, Deepika Amin, Sameksha and Rahul Raj Singh have called out people for sexual harassment and misconduct, Sonal Vengurlekar has now come forward to share her ordeal. The actress, who has been a part of shows like Yeh Vaada Raha, Shastri Sisters, The Buddy Project and Dil Dosti Dance, revealed to BT that she faced sexual advances by Raja Bajaj (Rajesh V Bajaj), a photographer . The incident happened in 2012 when she was trying to get a foothold in the television industry.

Talking exclusively to BT, Sonal says, “This was when I had started giving auditions and chanced upon an opportunity on a casting website. I called on the number mentioned on the site and was told by the person to come for an audition in Borivali. The man happened to be TV actress Sheena Bajaj’s father, Raja Bajaj.

He began the conversation by boasting about his daughter and how she gets paid Rs 55,000 per day. He promised to help me bag acting offers. I gave the audition, but couldn’t deliver the dialogues well since I was untrained. He told me that I have a good face, but needed to have a better understanding of the profession and suggested that I assist him on a shoot, which was slated to happen within a week. I agreed to that. A few days later, he called to say that we would be going to Lonavala for the shoot and I should inform my family that it would be a day-long assignment. He picked me up from Powai on March 5, 2012 and there was a model in his car. He introduced us and said that he would be doing a photoshoot with her at a resort in Khopoli. When we reached there, I saw another model with her mother at the resort. After some time, he told me to try out a couple of outfits, though I wondered why he asked me to try out those outfits when the shoot was with another model. I didn’t give it much thought and walked towards my room to do as I was told. However, I realised that he was following me. He had a bottle of cream in his hand and told me to apply it on my breasts before wearing those dresses, as that would help in giving them a proper shape. I told him that the dresses would fit me even without it. Much to my horror, he came forward and applied the cream on my breasts forcibly. I got scared and ran away. I told him that I wouldn’t try the dresses, and suggested that I would rather watch the shoot and learn on the job.”

Sonal, who was only 19 then, adds, “What made the situation even scarier was that no one from my family was with me. After the incident, I decided to step out of the room and act normal. Later in the evening, he told one of the models to leave for home and informed the other model, who was there with her mom, that her shoot would take place at night. I went back to my room, from where I could see Raja drinking and chatting with the resort manager.

Sometime later, he came to my room and said, ‘Aapko main tantrik vidya sikhaunga, jisse aap raaton raat superstar bann jaogi. You have to remove your clothes and sit naked in front of me and repeat the mantra I chant.’ I snubbed him and said that I didn’t want to learn anything. He, then, stepped forward and tried to forcibly remove my clothes. I somehow managed to get out of the room and went straight to the model and her mother, who were in the adjoining room. I could see him peeping into the room fearing that I will expose him. Sometime later, the resort manager informed us that Raja had fled the scene without his belongings. He must have realised that he did something wrong for which he could get into trouble,” shares Sonal.

Sonal then stayed back at the resort along with the other model and her mother, as it wasn’t safe to travel at that hour. She further tells us, “The following day (March 6), when I returned to Mumbai, I was confused about sharing the incident with my mother. So, I spoke to a family friend and narrated the incident to him. He told me to call and confront Raja, but his wife answered the call on his behalf. I told her about what transpired during the shoot and she apologised. She also requested me to come over and discuss it. On March 7, I went with my friend and both of them (Raja and wife) fell at my feet and pleaded not to disclose it to anyone. They even said that they would help me bag a lead role. But by then, I was determined to file a police complaint and I did that at Kasturba Marg police station (Borivali), near his residence, the same day. The model and her mother, who were present at the resort, were called to record their statement as well. They said that they had no clue about what had happened inside my room, but testified that Raja had left without any information that night and they didn’t know why. I think he was locked up for a night before he was out on bail.”

Recently, she was again contacted by the police to record a statement. She adds, “The friend who accompanied me while filing the FIR, called my mother around six months ago, to inform that the police was trying to reach out to me for my statement. I was shooting for almost 30 days and was quite busy with my work. At one point, I felt that I should withdraw the case, as besides the fact that my schedule might not allow me to be present for every hearing, I was also bogged down by the fact that a case filed years ago hasn’t yielded any result yet. I was scared for my parents, too. I didn’t want him or people known to him to harm me or my family, as I am the sole breadwinner. But my lawyer told me that if I wanted to close the case, I would have to retract my statement and say that there was a misunderstanding and it wasn’t this guy. I would have withdrawn the case had he apologised or if there was an alternative to do so without changing my statement. I also felt that withdrawing the case wasn’t a solution, as it was stemming from fear. He must have done the same with many other girls. There was no point in lying and I didn’t want him to get a clean chit. My family supported me on my decision.”

Sonal recorded her statement around 15 days ago. She says, “His lawyer came up to me and told me that I am dragging a simple incident on for so long and that it will taint my image in the industry. She even tried to dissuade my mother from going ahead with the case and told her, ‘Naam kharaab ho jaayega beti ka.’ But I didn’t bother about it, as I hadn’t done anything wrong and told my mother not to pay heed to his lawyer at all. I told her that we have to give a final statement and then, the judiciary will decide the punishment. I am going to record my statement on December 1. The incident has made me careful and cautious. I am glad I reacted immediately and would urge every girl to do the same.”

About her equation with Raja’s daughter Sheena, with whom she has worked on a show, Sonal says, “I think he was misusing his daughter’s name. Sheena worked with me in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge. She would come to the set with her mother, who maintained her distance from me. I never interacted with Sheena as I didn’t want to get into that space.”