Palak Sindhwani recently opened up about her decision to quit the popular show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC), where she played the role of ‘Sonu Bhide’. In a recent interview, Palak shared that she had been trying to leave the show since December 2023 due to health reasons, but the makers did not allow her to exit. This revelation adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding TMKOC, which has been criticized for its toxic work environment by several actors over the past few years.
During her interview with Pinkvilla, Palak mentioned that she had approached the show’s producers in 2023, explaining her medical issues and her need for a less stressful environment.
She was advised by her doctor to reduce stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which the unpredictable schedule of the show did not support. However, the producers refused to let her go, citing another actor who was also planning to leave at the time. Palak recalled:
“I have had certain medical issues. I don’t want to go into details of that. My doctor advised me to take less stress and asked me to maintain a good lifestyle where I get good sleep and the work is light. But here anything happens at any time. I was planning to quit the show. In December 2023, for the first time, I told their production head that I want to quit. After hearing this, he said, ‘No, not now. Now another co-actor is leaving.'”
Palak further explained that this delay was not new to the show. One of her co-stars had been trying to quit for over 1.5 years but faced similar obstacles from the production team, who kept delaying their exit for various reasons. In her words:
“To even let that co-actor go, they took 1.5 years. He suffered for 1.5 years and that is the reason the said co-actor was sent on a good note.”
Revealing that she no longer wishes to work in television. After five years on the same show, she feels it’s time for a change. Before moving forward with new opportunities, she plans to take a break to focus on her mental and physical well-being. Palak expressed:
“Honestly, I don’t want to do TV. Mera mann uthh gaya hai. 5 saal ek show ko dene ke baad aisa sab hua hai toh abhi muje TV nahi karna hai. Honestly, this one-month break can exceed to two months.”
Palak also accused the TMKOC makers of mistreating her, threatening to delete her social media accounts, and forbidding her from participating in brand endorsements. She shared how they spoke to her harshly when she tried to explain that other actors were also involved in endorsements, asking why she was being singled out. According to Palak:
“During the September 18 meeting, they even threatened me, saying they could delete my Instagram account in one go because they have such a strong team, and that I wouldn’t be able to shoot brand endorsements anymore. I pointed out that almost all the actors are doing brand endorsements, so why was I the only one being accused of breaching the contract? They responded that their contracts are different and I shouldn’t compare myself with others. They started speaking to me rudely, using the same harsh language.“
Palak’s revelations have sparked further discussion about the working conditions on the TMKOC sets, adding to the ongoing controversies surrounding the show. Let us know your thoughts on Palak Sindhwani’s experience.
