Of late, actors from TV shows Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) and Anupamaa have spoken up about the toxic work culture and harassment on set. This raises a pertinent question: Why are such serious issues not spoken about despite the presence of regulatory bodies like Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) and Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE)?

FWICE president Birendra Nath Tiwari says, “The organization can take strict action against the offender or stop the shoot temporarily, but we can’t do anything unless victims come out and register an official complaint. Actors don’t want to spoil their equation with the production houses. Hence, they don’t talk about it openly.”

Given that CINTAA is a union that largely comprises actors, many believe it’s highly unlikely that they’d take strict action. “Jo CINTAA mein baithe hain, unhe bhi toh kaam chahiye producers se. I’ve heard that CINTAA comes, takes money [from the producers] and ignores the matter,” says Control Room actor Nishant Singh Malkani, who recalls being told by CINTAA members to do what the producers were saying.

Actor Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, who recently accused TMKOC producer Asit Kumarr Modi of sexual harassment, says, “Every time a CINTAA representative had to visit the set, which is usually a surprise visit, Asit would know about it beforehand and everything would be put into place. So, when we know that producers had their way of dealing with CINTAA, why would we go to them?”

CINTAA general secretary Amit Bahl says, “We have an outrage committee, a care committee and a dispute-settlement committee. The moment we get any complaint regarding abuse, we act instantly. CINTAA doesn’t charge a single penny for any case.”

On actors’ claims about CINTAA members taking bribe, Bahl adds, “We disaffiliated CINTAA from the federation six years ago, after we found out that there were corrupt people in the union.”

While some actors stress on the need of a counsellor on set to tackle such issues, producer J D Majethia says that after the #MeToo movement, every production house was told to make a committee and immediately report any such mishap, not only regarding harassment, but also toxicity on the set. “But, in the absence of the committee, if any unpleasant incident happens and the producer isn’t taking any action, the victim should inform the channel and CINTAA,” he says.

Actor Monika Bhadoriya, who called out the production team of TMKOC, says she didn’t know there was a body that helps with such issues: “I thought CINTAA only helps with payment-related issues. Also, people keep quiet to not harm their careers.”

TMKOC actor Priya Ahuja feels going to CINTAA would mean “turning producers into your enemies”. Echoing similar thoughts, Malkani adds that actors choose to stay mum as they don’t want to be “tagged troublemakers”.

Another actor from the TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has come out in the open, spilling deets about the working conditions of the set. Actor Monika Bhadoriya who played Bawri in the show alleges that after she left the show in 2019, makers didn’t pay her dues of three months which equated around Rs. 4-5 lakhs, for over a year. “I have fought for my money for over a year. Unhone har artist ka paisa rok rakha hai - whether it was Raj (Anadkat), Gurucharan (Singh) Bhai - sirf torture karne ke liye. Unke paas paise ki kami nahi hai,” she says.

Bhadoriya recalls her days on the set as “hell”. Bhadoriya’s late mother was undergoing cancer treatment, while the makers of the show remained unsupportive towards her. “I would spend the night at the hospital and they would call me early in the morning for a shoot. Even if I would say I am not in the right state of mind, they would force me to come. The worst part was that even after coming on shoot, I would wait, mera kuch kaam hi nahi hota tha,” she shares.

When Bhadoriya’s mother passed away, the show’s producer Asit Kumarr Modi never called her to condole her. “I was in a trauma but he only called me seven days after my mother’s death, asking me to report on the set. When I said I wasn’t in condition, his team said, ‘Hum aapko paisa de rahe hai, hum jab chahe aap ko khada hona padega chahe aap ki Mummy admit ho ya koi.’ I went to the set because I had no option and I would just cry everyday. Upar se unka torture and misbehave bhi karte the. They would call me on the set an hour before the call time. Itni gundagardi hai unke set pe. He (Asit) says ‘I’m a God’,” she elaborates.

This was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. “Maine bola mujhe kaam hi nahi karna aisi jagah jaha pe aapko kaam karke aisa lage ki issey better suicide karlo. Jo koi aa raha hai badtameezi se baat kar raha hai, Sohil sabse badtameezi se baat karte hai,” she adds.

Despite Bhadoriya’s claims of Modi’s unruly attitude, she says that no one from the current cast members will out him. “Jo show mein hai wo bolenge bhi nahi. He even made me sign the contract to not speak ill about them in the media. Jennifer (Mistry Bansiwal, actor) ji ne bhi baat nahi ki when others left the show. Jab unke saath jeezein hui toh wo boli. Sabko apni job bachana hai. Jitna torture unhone kiya haim kisi ne nahi kiya hai,” she shares.

Furthermore, Bhadoriya reveals that when she was signed on for the show, she was only paid a minuscule amount of Rs. 30,000 monthly for the show. “They had promised me to hike my fee after six months, but they never did. Wo paise ki beimaani karti hai. Sach mein woh kutte ki jaisa treat karte hain. Unhone mere saath bohot ganda behave kiya hai. And their EP Sohil Ramani is the worst. Bohot badtameez hai wo. Unhone toh Natttu kaka ko bhi abuse kiya tha,” she signs off.

When we reached out to Ramani and Modi for their comment, they remained unavailable till we went to the press.