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Shilpa Shinde aka Angoori bhabhi says she will now also take the legal route while dealing with the producers of 'Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain', after she was served a legal notice by the producers and asked to refrain from "making any negative comments against the channel and the producers".
Shilpa calls the legal notice 'blackmailing tactics', saying, "I don't know why I should react because initially, they said I was throwing tantrums and that's why they were replacing me. Then, I got to know that Rashami Desai was replacing me. So where is the replacement now? When I asked them to apologise to me if they wanted me back, I was told to sit at home. The producers said that the show would go on with Saumya Tandon, Aashif Sheikh and Rohitash ji, but they were getting messages from fans asking them to end the show if I wasn't in it. Why am I being sent a legal notice and then asked to go back to the sets within 48 hours if they don't need me? If they have so many problems with me, why are they calling me back? I am very surprised. They have humiliated me so much. I am a human being, not a punching bag. Now, I will also go through the legal route."
Benaifer, the show's producer, has said that Shilpa received increments during the course of one year and that she was quite aware of the clauses of her contract. "I have three-four contracts with them, but I don't have a copy of even one contract with me. The contracts are always one-sided and they favour the producers. We are puppets. Aisa koi clause kyun nahi hai ki aap artiste ko replace nahi kar sakte? Khaana woh denge, kapde woh denge, hum wahaan nahi kaam karenge, yahaan nahi kaam karenge. (Why isn't there a clause against replacement of artists which favors them?) They have complete rights over us. Paani nahi denge aur paani agar maange toh tantrums hain.(If water isn't provided to actors and they ask for it, it is termed as throwing tantrums) How do we survive in this sort of an atmosphere? They are saying that I signed three contracts with them. Why did they sign three contracts with me if I am not important? This is blackmail. If I am a liar and such a bad person, why do they want to work with me? How can they keep a gun to my head and ask me to act? Aise co-artiste hain jinhone mera saath nahi diya, aur main unke saath jaake kaam karoon? (I have co-artists who don't support me and I have to work with them now?) I am very sad. They are saying that I used to come late to the sets every day. Why is this matter being raised at this time?" she asks.
The actress adds that she hasn't been keeping well for a long time, but despite being unwell, she continued shooting. "I have been having medical issues for a long time, but the producers were never bothered. They were always concerned about their episodes. I told them, 'The doctor has advised me rest and to not stress about work'. I have been having constant headaches, but they think I am lying. I also had a bad throat and I had completely lost my voice. I was on antibiotics and used to feel drowsy all the time. I came late for the shoot and I was shouted at because of that. I stopped taking my medicines and that's why my voice is still not okay," she adds.
News has been doing the rounds that Shilpa will be part of 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. However, she refutes this, saying, "I was approached for 'The Kapil Sharma Show' after they saw in the news that I am being replaced. Producers ka jab mann aaayega tab woh mujhe ghar par baitha denge. Aap apni telecast nikaal rahe ho (Whenever the producers wish, they'd make me sit at home. They're spoiling their telecast). They already have Sucheta (Khanna) ready as my replacement after Rashami declined the show. They are mentally harassing me now when they have all their bases covered. I was threatened in the channel meeting and told, 'We will spoil your career if you don't sign the exclusivity contract'. I don't even have one copy of the contract. Benaifer is a mad woman. Aap kisi bhi artiste se poocho jinhone uske saath kaam kiya hai (any artiste who's worked with Benaifer would agree with me) " she says.
A meeting between CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes Association) members, Shilpa and the show's producers took place on Thursday and the results were in favour of the producers. The final verdict on the issue will be out in a few days. Shilpa responded to the ruling by saying, "CINTAA always rules in the producers' favour. First, the producers sent me a legal notice. Now, I will send a legal notice to them. They are saying I had signed three-four agreements with them. I want copies of those agreements for further legal action. If there are three agreements that have been signed, which is the agreement they are adhering to? I will not shoot for the show."
Sushant Singh, honorary general secretary, CINTAA, tells us, "(Shilpa) had signed an exclusivity contract. Her claim that exclusivity was being brought in as a new clause was found to be invalid. She has to abide by the contract's conditions and report to the sets. She has not agreed to the verdict. I have heard in some of her interviews that she will drag CINTAA to court. She doesn't have a case and is giving out contradictory statements. On the one hand, she says she is upset about being replaced and on the other, she says that she doesn't want to work with the producers. We fail to understand her state of mind. If she knows the show will end (without her), it shows that she has no empathy for the other artistes and technicians of the show. How can you be so heartless and unprofessional? She thinks she's the only person who's right."
Saloni Bhatia | TNN | Mar 22, 2016, 12.00 AM IST
Kumkum Bhagya
