One of Indian television’s most celebrated sitcoms, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, is now mired in a troubling controversy. Former cast member Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, known for playing Roshan Bhabhi, has accused the show’s producer Asit Kumarr Modi of sexual harassment. The actress, who exited the show in 2023, has opened up about years of verbal abuse and inappropriate behavior she claims to have endured on and off set.
In a recent exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, Jennifer gave a detailed account of several shocking incidents, revealing what allegedly took place during her tenure on the show.
First Signs of Trouble: 2018 Verbal Abuse
Jennifer shared that her ordeal began in 2018 when she clashed with the show’s Operation Head, Sohail Ramani. During a heated phone call, Ramani allegedly hurled verbal abuse at her. Feeling emotionally drained, she turned to Asit Modi for support but was instead met with an unexpected and disturbing response.
Jennifer recalled, “I went to Asit ji to discuss my issues with Sohail, and instead, he said to me, ‘You look sexy.’”
She was shocked by the comment but chose to stay silent at the time, hoping the situation would not escalate.
Inappropriate Comments Over a Visa Request
In 2022, another disturbing episode unfolded when Jennifer requested a letter from the production house to support her visa application for a Switzerland trip. She was on a call with Modi, seeking assistance but claims the conversation turned uncomfortable very quickly.
As she began crying during the call, Modi reportedly responded with, “If you were here, I would hug you. I would take a chance.”
Jennifer said she felt completely helpless and disrespected during this interaction.
Singapore Incident: March 2019
A significant portion of Jennifer’s allegations centers around an overseas shoot in Singapore in March 2019. On International Women’s Day, she claims that Modi made multiple inappropriate suggestions and comments.
He allegedly said to her, “Why don’t you come to my room and drink whiskey? You wouldn’t get bored alone.”
Jennifer said she tried to ignore these remarks but became increasingly uncomfortable. She also recounted another chilling moment when Modi came close to her at a coffee shop and said, “Your lips are very sexy. It makes me want to hold you and kiss you.”
This comment, Jennifer said, left her frozen with fear. She later confided in her co-star Mandar Chandwadkar, but to her disappointment, he did not intervene or support her publicly.
Other Actors and Their Reactions
Jennifer wasn’t alone in witnessing such behavior. She said Gurucharan Singh, who played her on-screen husband, would step in whenever Modi tried to sit too close to her. She also shared the incident with Munmun Dutta, who confronted Modi directly. Jennifer praised Munmun, saying, “She is a strong woman.”
She added that Munmun confronted Modi saying, “What is this? Why are you bothering her? Just because she doesn’t say anything doesn’t mean you can treat her this way.” According to Jennifer, Modi became silent after Munmun’s scolding, and the cast soon returned to Mumbai.
A Culture of Silence and Fear
Jennifer explained that she initially ignored the behavior, hoping it would stop. However, she realized that staying silent only encouraged further misconduct. She also alleged that Modi had made inappropriate remarks to other actresses on the show, including Monika Bhadoriya.
The overall experience, she said, left her deeply shaken. The combination of fear, trauma, and lack of support led her to finally walk away from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2023.
