Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, who played a role in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has been open regarding the controversies that surrounded her time in the show. She has shocked people once again by alleging that the show’s producer Asit Kumarr Modi sexually harassed her. As an actress, her performances as a ‘Roshan Sodhi’ remains unforgettable and recently she has been talking about some distressing incidents of unwanted advances, rude comments, and a toxic environment in the workplace which she claims has normalised continuous harassment.
While talking in one of the interviews, she tells of one the most uncomfortable moments, the one that happened in 2018 when Jennifer disagreed with Sohail Ramani. Asit Modi was alleged to have verbally assaulted Jennifer by claiming that she was sexy and harassed her in an alleged phone conversation. Bansiwal states that she was angered by the comments and goes on to recall “Asit ji ke pass gayi unse baat karne toh… ‘Sexy lag rahi ho’ (I went to Asit ji to talk about something related to Sohail, but he left everything aside and said ‘You’re looking sexy’).”
In one of the retold incidents Bansiwal said, “In 2022, I had to go to Switzerland, but their visa had issues because these guys wouldn’t, ‘say’ that I am employed by them in writing.”
Asit said some terrible things during our call. I told him I have been working for 10 years, I’ve been crying, please. I am using the 10 lakh I have saved up for something. My only wish is to take my family to travel to Switzerland.” She claimed, “He started with, ‘What is the reason for your tears? I would embrace you if you were here, my rule is to never care about you. He said later on, “I was joking, but I’ve done this a lot to people”” – which is actually true. She remembers, “He told me, ‘Mukesh is your husband, and I wish you the best.’”
Jennifer shared how Mandar Chandwadkar (Bhide) did not offer any assistance when she tried telling him about her problems. Later, when she spoke to Gurucharan Singh about it, she told him, “I told Gurucharan (Sodhi) next because he was also close to me.” He did not have much to offer. He could not do much because he was also working. “But he said, ‘Chalo meri voti ke paas nahi rehne. (Don’t come near my wife.)” He said that in fun, which was not very helpful.
As for the rest of the cast, Jennifer has also shared how Asit Modi (the director) is scared of Munmun Dutta (Babita). “Asit is a little scared of Munmun, so he remained quiet,” she shared. “Munmun was my very good friend. So I told her too.” Dutta “scolded” Modi, claiming, “strong women’ frighten men who try to do anything they want. So she said, ‘Why do you trouble her just because she doesn’t say much. Don’t disturb her’.”
