Ashoke Pandit reacts to Shilpa Shinde row: False allegations harm genuine victims
Shilpa Shinde's admission that her complaint against Sanjay Kohli was false has drawn a sharp response from Ashoke Pandit. The fallout has reignited scrutiny of the 2016 dispute and the damage caused by false allegations.
Actor Shilpa Shinde’s recent admission that she had falsely accused Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! producer Sanjay Kohli of sexual harassment has sparked a wider debate, with criticism coming from social media users as well as members of the entertainment industry. Among those who reacted strongly was filmmaker and FWICE chief adviser Ashoke Pandit, who said false allegations can cause serious harm to both the accused and genuine victims.
Speaking to Screen, Pandit said that if Shinde’s statements made during the podcast are true, they deserve serious scrutiny and condemnation. Calling sexual harassment a grave allegation, he said using it as a weapon to settle personal or professional disputes was deeply wrong.
“If what Shilpa Shinde said in the podcast is true, it deserves strong condemnation,” Pandit said. He added that even if a producer chose to remain silent to keep a show running and protect the livelihoods of its crew, it did not give a false accuser a free pass. According to him, false allegations can damage a person's reputation, career and mental well-being, while also making it more difficult for genuine victims to be believed.
“Every false accusation weakens trust in those who come forward with real experiences,” he said, adding that if someone knowingly sought to damage another person’s life and reputation for personal gain, it was “completely unacceptable."
FWICE is the umbrella body representing workers, technicians and various craft unions in India’s film and television industry.
The controversy escalated after Shinde said in a recent podcast that the sexual harassment complaint she had filed against Sanjay Kohli during a dispute over unpaid dues was false. Her remarks went viral, leading to strong reactions online.
Actor Hina Khan was among those who criticised the admission, writing on social media, “The joke is on us.” As criticism grew, Shinde said her comments had been misunderstood and that many people were reacting without knowing the full circumstances.
In a video posted on Instagram, Shinde alleged that a negative PR campaign was being run against her and said she was being targeted despite choosing to speak honestly about the past. She said, “The PR that is going on, and after that, the kind of comments that are coming in I just want to tell them that you will reap what you sow. What you guys are writing without understanding the situation You are lying to a person who told the truth.”
She also said no one had forced her to make the allegation and that the decision had been her own. “It was a lie and no one asked me to lie. I couldn’t have lived with that lie. One day, I was going to say it. I didn’t do it for money. I left that show and I had left it all behind,” she said.
Explaining her state of mind at the time, Shinde said she had felt trapped by the situation surrounding the dispute. “Sorry is a small word now but he (Sanjay) also knows that I didn’t have an option back then. I was contemplating suicide at that point,” she said. In a separate conversation with IANS, she said the complaint did not lead to Sanjay Kohli’s arrest because she knew the allegation was false. “I never allowed the police to arrest him because I knew I was lying. My intention was not just to recover money. People should not jump to conclusions without knowing the full reality,” she said.
Shinde also alleged that some people in the industry were using the controversy for publicity and said she had spoken out because she no longer wanted to live with the lie. Recalling the fallout after she left Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!, she said, “People called me psycho. Rumours were spread about me. Criminal defamation cases were filed against me. CINTAA also took action against me. Leaving that show was not easy. There were attempts to stop me from participating in Bigg Boss. I finally confessed because I did not want to carry this lie with me forever.”
Shinde’s exit from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! in 2016 became one of the most discussed controversies on Indian television. She left the sitcom after a bitter disagreement with the makers over contractual issues and alleged unpaid dues. The production house, in turn, accused her of unprofessional conduct and sent her a legal notice asking her to return to the show. The dispute then grew into a prolonged legal and public battle. During that period, Shinde filed complaints against producer Binaifer Kohli and accused producer Sanjay Kohli of sexual harassment. She also said she was facing pressure from the industry, alleging that efforts were being made to sideline her professionally and bind her through restrictive contracts. The dispute was eventually settled and Shinde received her pending payments. After the settlement, both sides reportedly agreed not to speak publicly about each other.
Years later, relations between the two sides improved, and Shinde returned to the Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! franchise. She has since said that she now shares an amicable equation with the show’s makers. Her recent admission, however, has revived the controversy, brought fresh criticism from the industry and online users, and once again put the events surrounding her 2016 exit under focus. This report contains references to legal disputes, false allegations and severe emotional distress.
Actor Shilpa Shinde’s recent admission that she had falsely accused Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! producer Sanjay Kohli of sexual harassment has sparked a wider debate, with criticism coming from social media users as well as members of the entertainment industry. Among those who reacted strongly was filmmaker and FWICE chief adviser Ashoke Pandit, who said false allegations can cause serious harm to both the accused and genuine victims.
Speaking to Screen, Pandit said that if Shinde’s statements made during the podcast are true, they deserve serious scrutiny and condemnation. Calling sexual harassment a grave allegation, he said using it as a weapon to settle personal or professional disputes was deeply wrong.
“If what Shilpa Shinde said in the podcast is true, it deserves strong condemnation,” Pandit said. He added that even if a producer chose to remain silent to keep a show running and protect the livelihoods of its crew, it did not give a false accuser a free pass. According to him, false allegations can damage a person's reputation, career and mental well-being, while also making it more difficult for genuine victims to be believed.
“Every false accusation weakens trust in those who come forward with real experiences,” he said, adding that if someone knowingly sought to damage another person’s life and reputation for personal gain, it was “completely unacceptable."
FWICE is the umbrella body representing workers, technicians and various craft unions in India’s film and television industry.
The controversy escalated after Shinde said in a recent podcast that the sexual harassment complaint she had filed against Sanjay Kohli during a dispute over unpaid dues was false. Her remarks went viral, leading to strong reactions online.
Actor Hina Khan was among those who criticised the admission, writing on social media, “The joke is on us.” As criticism grew, Shinde said her comments had been misunderstood and that many people were reacting without knowing the full circumstances.
In a video posted on Instagram, Shinde alleged that a negative PR campaign was being run against her and said she was being targeted despite choosing to speak honestly about the past. She said, “The PR that is going on, and after that, the kind of comments that are coming in I just want to tell them that you will reap what you sow. What you guys are writing without understanding the situation You are lying to a person who told the truth.”
She also said no one had forced her to make the allegation and that the decision had been her own. “It was a lie and no one asked me to lie. I couldn’t have lived with that lie. One day, I was going to say it. I didn’t do it for money. I left that show and I had left it all behind,” she said.
Explaining her state of mind at the time, Shinde said she had felt trapped by the situation surrounding the dispute. “Sorry is a small word now but he (Sanjay) also knows that I didn’t have an option back then. I was contemplating suicide at that point,” she said. In a separate conversation with IANS, she said the complaint did not lead to Sanjay Kohli’s arrest because she knew the allegation was false. “I never allowed the police to arrest him because I knew I was lying. My intention was not just to recover money. People should not jump to conclusions without knowing the full reality,” she said.
Shinde also alleged that some people in the industry were using the controversy for publicity and said she had spoken out because she no longer wanted to live with the lie. Recalling the fallout after she left Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!, she said, “People called me psycho. Rumours were spread about me. Criminal defamation cases were filed against me. CINTAA also took action against me. Leaving that show was not easy. There were attempts to stop me from participating in Bigg Boss. I finally confessed because I did not want to carry this lie with me forever.”
Shinde’s exit from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! in 2016 became one of the most discussed controversies on Indian television. She left the sitcom after a bitter disagreement with the makers over contractual issues and alleged unpaid dues. The production house, in turn, accused her of unprofessional conduct and sent her a legal notice asking her to return to the show. The dispute then grew into a prolonged legal and public battle. During that period, Shinde filed complaints against producer Binaifer Kohli and accused producer Sanjay Kohli of sexual harassment. She also said she was facing pressure from the industry, alleging that efforts were being made to sideline her professionally and bind her through restrictive contracts. The dispute was eventually settled and Shinde received her pending payments. After the settlement, both sides reportedly agreed not to speak publicly about each other.
Years later, relations between the two sides improved, and Shinde returned to the Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! franchise. She has since said that she now shares an amicable equation with the show’s makers. Her recent admission, however, has revived the controversy, brought fresh criticism from the industry and online users, and once again put the events surrounding her 2016 exit under focus. This report contains references to legal disputes, false allegations and severe emotional distress.
