TMKOC: 'Shailesh Lodha's accusation is wrong, payment NOT stopped,' makers clarify after actor said 6-figure amount is due

A day after it was reported that Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Shailesh Lodha is yet to receive his dues from, the makers of the show issued a clarification and stated that the accusation by the actor is wrong.

Shailesh played the role of Taarak Mehta in the sitcom for nearly 14 years before quitting in 2022. It was reported that Shailesh’s payment from over a year has not been cleared by the makers of the show. It’s approximately a six-figure amount. He has been patiently waiting for the makers to clear his dues for almost a year. But producer Asit Kumarr Modi is paying no heed.

Makers clarify

On Wednesday, a source close to the production house informed, "Shailesh Lodha and other actors have been like an extended family of the production house. We have maintained a dignified silence on exits and cause of the exits due to respect to the person concerned. It is very sad and painful when an artist behaves in this manner. To forget the relationship and popularity which they received from the show is unethical. Payment is not an issue. He will get his dues but he needs to do closure and sign the papers."

The source added that sometimes disgruntled people do try to spread misleading information but every company has a system in place. Till date, the company has not stopped the dues of any artiste. Falsely maligning a company on incomplete information is improper and unethical, the source added.

“Despite repeated communication to sign all dues document and collect his pending payment, Shailesh Lodha has refused to do it. When you leave any company or show, there is always a procedure that needs to be followed and fulfilled. Every artiste, staff or technicians needs to do these formalities. No company will release the payment before completing the formalities,” adds Suhel Ramani, Artist Co-ordinator of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.

"Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has a reputation and good will. The company has not delayed payments even by a single day. If that was the case then no artist would have worked with the production. It is very Sad and painful when an artist behaves in this manner. Every artist working in such a long running daily show has to be in discipline. TMKOC is a daily show and the team works round the clock to maintain the quality of the show. One cannot be ungrateful to the audience," Suhel added.

About the show

The popular sitcom has been on air for over a decade. Starring Dilip Joshi, Munmun Dutta, Mandar Chandwadkar, Amit Bhatt and Sonalika Joshi among others, it is one of the longest-running episodic shows.

The story revolves around the lives of a family living in the Gokuldham Society, where they co-exist with families of different backgrounds and cultures.

Other than its flagship show, Neela Film Productions Private Limited also streams Gukuldhamchi Duniyadari in Marathi and Tarak Mama Ayyo Rama in Telegu on YouTube. The shows along with the character universe are authored and created by Asit Kumarr Modi.