Actor Shilpa Shinde has once again criticized the television industry, alleging that producers operate like “white-collar mafias” and exploit artists by withholding payments and discouraging others from supporting them.
Her remarks came in response to reports that actor Shehzada Dhami is yet to receive nearly ₹30 lakh in pending dues. In a strongly worded video shared on Instagram, Shinde accused sections of the industry of unfair treatment of artists and claimed that those who challenge producers often face professional consequences.
“The producers in the TV industry operate like a mafia. They are white-collar mafias,” Shinde said. “Artists cannot fight back because payments are often held for months and sometimes never released.”
She also criticized artists’ associations for allegedly failing to support performers during disputes and claimed that producers who stand up for artists risk being sidelined.
Responds to backlash over harassment case admission
Shinde also addressed criticism surrounding her recent admission that a sexual harassment complaint she filed against Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain producer Sanjay Kohli nearly a decade ago was false.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by comedian Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, Shinde said she filed the complaint after feeling “cornered” following a payment dispute after leaving the show. She claimed the matter was later settled and that she eventually received her dues.
The revelation sparked criticism from several industry figures, including actress Pooja Bedi and actor Hina Khan, who questioned the implications of admitting to filing a false complaint.
Defending herself, Shinde said outsiders were unaware of the circumstances she faced at the time and expressed disappointment that many of her former colleagues did not support her.
“No one knows what I went through then,” she said. “People accuse me of doing it for money, but they don’t know the reality.”
‘I’d rather sell vegetables’
In her video, Shinde said she no longer wishes to work with people she believes have failed to stand up for artists.
“Today was an opportunity for my co-artists to speak up, but they didn’t,” she said. “I don’t want to work with such people anymore. I don’t need roles. I’d rather sell vegetables on the street than bow down to them.”
She also lamented what she described as a lack of creativity in television content and accused members of the industry of remaining silent when artists face injustice.
Meanwhile, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) issued a statement calling Shinde’s admission a matter of concern for both the television and film industries, reigniting debate over accountability, workplace disputes and the handling of harassment allegations in the entertainment sector.
