Shilpa Shinde says her sexual harassment claims against Bhabiji producer were false

Actor Shilpa Shinde has made a revelation regarding her past legal dispute linked to Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!. She said that the sexual harassment allegations she made against producer Sanjay Kohli were false and were part of a larger conflict at the time.

In Short

• Shilpa Shinde admitted sexual harassment claim against producer was false
• She filed complaint due to lack of options amid payment dispute
• Settlement cleared her pending payments after three months

Actor Shilpa Shinde has revisited her long-running dispute with the makers of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!. Nearly a decade after exiting the show in 2016, the actor admitted that the sexual harassment allegations she had levelled against producer Sanjay Kohli were false.

Opening up about the controversy on a recent podcast, Shilpa said she filed the complaint because she felt she had no other option at the time and that the matter was later settled, following which her pending payments were cleared.

During an appearance on comedian Bharti Singh and writer Haarsh Limbachaiyaa's podcast, Shilpa said, “Nobody knows this, and I’m not afraid of telling the truth. Even today, I will say this because it is a big thing. I filed a sexual harassment case against my producer because I had no other option. Eventually, I got out of that situation because the matter was settled."

The actor went on to claim that the case was filed amid a larger dispute over payments and industry support.

“Tab kisi producer ne unka saath nahi diya aur maine case usi basis pe kiya police toh seedha FIR karne ke liye yeh bolti hai aapko ganda likhna padega and I am from law background Main aaj iske through bol rahi hoon woh jhooth tha. Main yeh aaj first time confess kar rahi hoon sach much. Phir hamari settlement hui aur jo hamari payment thi jo teen mahine baad milta tha voh clear hua,” she added.

Translation: "At that time, no producer stood by him, and that formed the basis of my complaint. The police told me that serious allegations would have to be included for an FIR to be registered. Since I come from a law background, I understood the process. Today, I want to admit that those allegations were false. This is the first time I am confessing it publicly. Later, we reached a settlement, and my pending payments were cleared."

Shilpa also reflected on how her relationship with the people associated with Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! has evolved over the years. She recalled returning to the franchise after more than a decade because it was the wish of writer Manoj Santoshi, whom she felt had also been hurt by the fallout.

The actor added that despite everything that happened, she is working with the team again and now shares a cordial relationship with them.

About Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! controversy

Shilpa Shinde's exit from the popular sitcom in 2016 sparked one of the biggest controversies in the television industry. At the time, the actor left the show amid a dispute over her contract and alleged non-payment of dues.

The show's producers accused her of being unprofessional and served her a legal notice, while Shilpa countered with complaints against producer Binaifer Kohli and allegations against producer Sanjay Kohli. She also alleged that she was being sidelined within the industry and pressured into restrictive contractual arrangements.

The dispute eventually ended in a settlement, after which her pending payments were cleared. Both sides reportedly agreed not to speak publicly about each other. Over the years, relations improved, with Shilpa later returning to the Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! franchise and describing her current equation with the makers as cordial.

Her latest remarks mark the first time she has publicly stated that the sexual harassment allegation she filed during the dispute was untrue.

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