New Delhi: The makers of the popular show ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ have reacted to a media report that claimed that the dues of Shailesh Lodha, who played Taarak Mehta in the show, have not been cleared. The makers have dismissed the claim and said that the dues have not been cleared as Lodha hasn’t completed his formalities.
“Despite repeated communication to sign all dues document and collect his pending payment, Shailesh Lodha has refused to do it. When you leave any company or show, there is always a procedure that needs to be followed and fulfilled. Every artiste, staff or technicians needs to do these formalities. No company will release the payment before completing the formalities,” says Suhel Ramani, project head of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, in a statement to Indian Express.
According to a media report, the actor’s dues, which is approximately a six-figure amount, from over a year are yet to be cleared by the makers. Shailesh Lodha quit the popular show ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ in April 2022.
“Shailesh Lodha and other actors have been like an extended family of the production house. We have maintained a dignified silence on exits and cause of the exits due to respect to the person concerned. It is very sad and painful when an artist behaves in this manner. To forget the relationship and popularity which they received from the show is unethical. Payment is not an issue. He will get his dues but he needs to do closure and sign the papers,” Indian Express quoted its source as saying.
The report also mentioned that the dues of other actors like Neha K Mehta, who played Anjali in the show, are yet to be cleared.
The show’s team has denied the claim and said that they have not delayed payments of any artist.
“If that was the case, no artist would have worked with the production. It is very sad and painful when an artist behaves in this manner. Every artist working in such a long-running daily show has to be disciplined. TMKOC is a daily show and the team works round the clock to maintain the quality of the show. One cannot be ungrateful to the audience,” Indian Express quoted the show’s team.
Sachin Shroff has replaced Shailesh Lodha in the show.