Shailesh Lodha on quitting Taarak Mehta: It was never about money, I quit the show because Asit Kumarr Modi spoke to me in a derogatory way

Shailesh Lodha, who quit the longest running show of his career, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2022, has finally opened up about the reason of leaving the show. The popular poet-turned-actor in an interview with a Youtube channel revealed that his fight with the makers were never about money and it was always about his self-respect. He accused Taarak producer Asit Kumarr Modi of speaking to him in an uncultured manner which pushed him to take a call of leaving the show. Shailesh Lodha narrated the entire matter in the interview and revealed that the makers tried to arm-twist the matter when he put down his papers.

It was a matter of self respect. That’s why I decided to quit the show. There was a show on the same channel Good Night India and it was not my show. The series was about standup comedians and artists and the makers invited me as a special guest on one episode. I was invited as the poet Shailesh Lodha, I went there and why wouldn’t I? I was working as a poet since 1980 and I’m what I’m today is only because Hindi kavita. Mere jaane par koi dikkat bhi nahi thi, koi rok tok honi bhi nahi chahiye. I was contractually not bound by anyone to not go on a show of this nature. I can go as Shailesh Lodha anywhere and in fact this was on the same platform/channel.

I went and shot for it and they were the same producers with whom I had shot Comedy Circus a few years ago. I had a good relationship with them and I went there and recited one of my poetry which is quite famous. I got a call from the producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah asking me how did I go to the show? I told him I’m a poet and went there as a celebrity guest and not as the character from your show. It was a half an hour episode, where I was a celebrity guest and I was Shailesh Lodha there.

He (Asit Kumarr Modi) spoke to me in a very uncultured, derogatory tone. Which I couldn’t tolerate. Mujhe bardaasht nahi hua, this was not the first time. Ek baar Aur bhi daant ho chuki thi hamari set par. At that time he had said, “Yahan par sab kaam karne waale mere naukar hai”. That time also I’d objected to him and his language.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Shailesh Lodha recently opened up about the reason behind quitting the longest running show and accused Producer Asit Kumarr Modi of using derogatory tone while talking to him. He revealed, "I was doing Comedy Circus and I got a call from him (Asit Kumarr Modi) and I didn't know at that time who he was. He sounded very sincere. I must accept it at that time. I was not very sure for a fiction show so I told him I'll be flying to Jodhpur tomorrow, if you want you can meet me at the airport and he actually came. We met at Mumbai airport,"

I had written two lines on it, “har baat par Meri Hami nahi hai Aur Zulm ke aage salami nahi hai… Aur Bhul gaye mere khudaari ka imtehaan lene waala Meri rango mein khoon hai Ghulaami nahi hai…” the language in which he spoke to me I was not ready to tolerate it. We all were working there as artists and we all had together created the show. Aur aap Iss Bhasha mein toh baat he nahi kar sakte.

First of all you can’t have restrictions like this on anyone of us. I told I can’t tolerate this at all. I mailed it to them. On February 17, 2022, I mailed them I am not working on this show anymore. But I kept going to the show because when you are doing such a long running show, you have your stories line-up planned.

Then they started arm twisting things. Our industry has a rule where you can claim your money after 90 days of working on a project. Ye bahut ajeeb rule hai and people should know about it. That if a person has worked on January 1st, that person is not entitled to the money till April 1st. It is the rule and it is fine. We work on per day. I kept going as I felt I’ve already informed them and till the time I finish my work, they will find my replacement.

But what happened was in February 2022, they stopped my payment of November, to arm twist. They told me come to our office, sign the papers then we will release the money. I asked them to send the papers but they refused. They stopped my payment in March also and here I was working continuously. But woh jaan boojhkar paisa nahi de rahe the… only to arm twist and I was not ready to accept the language that was being used, I’d already put down my papers.

Finally, on April 5th, I mailed them again saying, “If you do not release my money, I’ll not come from tomorrow to work”. Abhi tak toh main aar aha tha good gesture mein. I stopped going from April 6th. Nobody could have interfered because everyone could see that they were trying to arm twist. If you saying first sign the paper then work, so then there should be a rule ke jab tak paper par sign nahi Karoge aap kaam nahi kar sakte…or do this. Money was never a matter. He did this to arm twist the matter.

My matter was never the money it was always the language in which he spoke and the behaviour. The feudalistic approach. The reason I went to NCLT was because they were asking me to sign a full and final agreement to clear my papers. It was not acceptable for me. Sabse pehli baat toh you don’t sign marriage certificate after divorce.

The agreement had clauses like I can’t use social media, I can’t talk to the media and all this when I’ve quit the show. I can’t talk on any matter. I’ve the entire form on my phone and I’ll show it to you. It was curbing my freedom and my constitutional rights. That the reason I went to NCLT as I was not ready to sign the documents. Court asked them to pay the money, the cleared all my dues and I did not sign any of their agreement.

The amount was Rs 1.05 crore. Now, those day are gone when people would think that a poet can settle on a tea and cigarettes. Now-a-days poets drive Audi, Range Rover, Mercedes. Yes, I am fond of cars and have these three. One or two cars like this.