His Touch Was Not Right: Shilpa Shinde On Being Sexually Harassed

Shilpa Shinde opens up about the alleged sexual harassment she faced from the producer of her show.

Shilpa Shinde made headlines when she quit the popular TV show Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai last year after a fight with the producer’s wife. The actress on 24 March filed an FIR against the producer of the show, Sanjay Kohli, alleging sexual harassment. On Saturday, the actress spoke to media about what took her so long to take this step and the issues that she has been facing.

There were a lot of issues earlier and circumstances were created so I could not speak out against this matter. I am telling this now because it has been one year but the memory is still fresh. The manner in which they behaved with me. I have been sick for seven-eight months.

Shilpa Shinde, Actor

She also said she had shared this information with her co-star Saumya Tandon but she took it too casually and said, "Hamari industry mein koi rape nahi karta."

In our industry everything is taken lightly. Guys say so many things and if you react to them, they go like - ‘we are kidding’. Things like – ‘You are looking, hot and sexy’ are common. Sanjay ji used to come on the set and while Benaifer (the producer’s wife) would take care of all the paper work, he would be the one who would talk like this to us.

Shilpa Shinde, Actor

Shilpa even gave instances of when she felt Sanjay was crossing the line.

Sanjay ji told me that for the promotion of show, we will have to go out and that we will have a nice time. Also, in the make-up room, he came close to me and photo lete hue and apna haath rakha mujh pe… I could feel that touch was not right.

Shilpa Shinde, Actor

When Shilpa quit the show in March 2016, she alleged that the makers of the show had “mentally tortured” her.

Post the FIR, the production house has issued an official statement.

All we can say is that matter is sub-judice, we have full faith in the judiciary. We will see her in court. We don’t want to give her unnecessary importance for her obvious false allegations.

Statement by Producers of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai!