Exclusive - Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actress Palak Sindhwani reveals she suffered panic attacks; says ''I was still shooting for them, even while dealing with health issues'

Palak Sindhwani, known for her role as Sonu Bhide, has announced her exit from the sitcom after five years. Her exit has garnered significant media attention, as Palak has made serious allegations against the producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, and his team. In a recent conversation with Times Of India TV, Palak accused the makers of not only threatening her but also pressuring her to disclose details about the brands she worked with and the payments she received. She alleged that the makers subjected her to mental harassment, resulting in her experiencing panic attacks.

Talking about the legal notice and how the makers threatened her, Palak said, "They not only threatened me but also demanded that I share the names of the brands I worked with and the amount I earned from those shoots. I was shocked and questioned them, as nothing like this had happened in the last five years. This is all happening now because I want to quit the show. It’s wrong and completely unacceptable. Until then, they hadn’t sent me a legal notice, but when they realized I wasn’t intimidated, they sent the notice on September 20."

She further shared that the makers purposely delayed her resignation process, "I wasn’t expecting this from them after serving so sincerely and passionately for five years. The email ID I had been requesting to submit my resignation was only given to me on the same day they sent the legal notice, demanding payment for damages. They deliberately delayed it so I couldn't submit my resignation on time. In all my five years, I’ve never been involved in any controversy or received a legal notice, so this entire situation gave me panic attacks.

Palak, who is still shooting for the show accused the makers of mental harassment, "I was still shooting for them, even while dealing with health issues, and I had submitted my medical reports. I asked them to consider my condition and grant me some leave, but instead, they kept making me shoot for 12 hours straight, to the point that I couldn’t even meet anyone or respond to their legal notice because I was stuck on set. Only I know how I managed the last 6-7 days. I've been mentally harassed by them, and these have been the most traumatic days of my life. They call me to shoot and make me sit for 12 hours, even though my actual work only takes 30 minutes," she said.