Palak Sindhwani, widely known for her portrayal of Sonu in the hit TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC), has dismissed reports claiming she received a legal notice from the show’s producers. The rumors suggested that Neela Telefilms, the production house behind TMKOC, was planning to take legal action against Palak for violating an “exclusivity” agreement by participating in third-party endorsements and public appearances without prior approval. However, Palak has firmly denied these allegations.
In a statement to Moneycontrol, Palak clarified the situation, saying, “It’s a rumor. I haven’t breached any contract. I’m scheduled to shoot for Taarak tomorrow with a 7 AM shift and have not received any legal notice.”
Palak also revealed that she spoke to the show’s producer, Asit Kumarr Modi, regarding the false reports and requested him to look into the matter. She admitted that handling such rumors has been emotionally taxing, especially while filming for the show’s Ganapati sequence. “I informed him about the false news that’s been spreading since last night, and told him it’s affecting my mental health while I’m shooting back-to-back for TMKOC’s Ganapati episode. I’ve asked him to investigate and clear up the misunderstandings,” she explained.
Although the young actress acknowledged the stress caused by the situation, she expressed confidence that the truth would soon come to light. “I want to address this further, but I first need to speak with the producer or his legal team. They’re meeting me on Monday,” she added.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is one of the longest-running and most beloved sitcoms on Indian television, with a successful run spanning over 16 years. The role of Sonu, also known as Sonalika Aatmaram Bhide, was initially played by Jheel Mehta until 2012, followed by Nidhi Bhanushali, who exited the show in 2019. Since then, Palak Sindhwani has taken on the character.
Over the years, several key actors, including Disha Vakani, Raj Anadkat, Shailesh Lodha, Gurucharan Singh, and Jennifer Mistry, have also left the show. Most recently, Kush Shah also announced his departure from the sitcom, further contributing to the show’s evolving cast.