Actor Satendra Soni, who is understood for his function in Aamir Khan-backed Laapataa Girls, has filed a Zero FIR in opposition to filmmaker Pushpendra Singh and his spouse, actor Pragati Chauhan, alleging non-payment of dues, assault, intimidation and wrongful confinement in the course of the shoot of their movie Paid Paalki.The allegations relate to an incident in June in the course of the movie’s shoot in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh. Soni has additionally alleged that he was harassed over his look and dwarfism and that the expertise affected him mentally, bodily and financially.The All Indian Cine Employees Affiliation (AICWA) has prolonged its help to Soni and actor Shreedhar Dubey, who has additionally been named within the affiliation’s assertion concerning the alleged incident.
AICWA backs Satendra Soni and Shreedhar Dubey
On Friday, AICWA issued a press release on X, saying it had supplied “full help, help and steerage” to Soni and Dubey in reference to allegations of “brutal assault, compelled confinement, demise threats, intimidation and non-payment of dues” in the course of the taking pictures of Paid Paalki.In accordance with the affiliation, AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta took up the matter and remained involved with each actors earlier than approaching the authorities.The affiliation mentioned the FIR was registered at Oshiwara Police Station in Mumbai on August 20, 2026, in opposition to Pushpendra Singh and Pragati Chauhan.AICWA mentioned it considers the allegations notably severe as a result of Soni is a longtime actor who has labored in initiatives together with Laapataa Girls and is related to the upcoming Mirzapur.The organisation additionally questioned whether or not smaller actors, technicians and employees could also be much more weak to alleged intimidation and exploitation as a result of they could be reluctant to talk out.AICWA has referred to as for a complete investigation and strict authorized motion in opposition to anybody discovered accountable.
Soni alleges non-payment and harassment on Paid Paalki set
In accordance with the grievance cited by The Indian Specific, Soni described himself as a struggling actor for whom performing is his solely supply of revenue. He additionally disclosed that he has dwarfism.Soni alleged that he first met Pushpendra Singh round one-and-a-half years in the past when the filmmaker supplied him a task in a challenge titled Shubh Sandesh. The movie was later shelved.In accordance with his grievance, Singh contacted him once more on April 1, 2026, and advised him that the challenge had been renamed Paid Paalki and was about to start filming.Soni claimed he was finalised for the movie for a remuneration of Rs 30,000 per day, along with his complete cost agreed at Rs 3 lakh. He allegedly acquired Rs 50,000 as an advance and was advised the remaining quantity could be paid in instalments in the course of the shoot.Nonetheless, he alleged that payment-related issues emerged after he arrived on the taking pictures location in Madhya Pradesh.Soni additionally claimed that the set lacked enough services, alleging that there was initially no self-importance van for the actors and that the one finally organized needed to be shared by all the forged. He additional alleged that sanitation services have been insufficient and rancid meals was served to the crew.
Actor alleges he was mocked over dwarfism
Soni has additionally alleged that he confronted ridicule due to his look and dwarfism whereas taking pictures.In accordance with his grievance, locals on the set would choose him up and take images with him with out his consent.“Folks on the set tried to select me up and click on photos with me. The manufacturing didn’t take care of my safety,” he alleged.Soni claimed he raised considerations in regards to the behaviour however mentioned they have been ignored. He additional alleged that Raja Chaudhary, an assistant director and his level of contact on the challenge, mentioned the difficulty with Pragati Chauhan.In accordance with Soni’s allegation, Chauhan abused him and refused to clear his pending cost.“She referred to as me a dwarf, abused me and refused to make my cost,” he alleged.The actor additional claimed that the state of affairs triggered a panic assault.“I used to be shivering, however no person got here to assist me. There have been no medical services out there. The meals was stale,” he alleged, including that he labored for practically 16 hours with solely a samosa to eat.
Soni alleges threats and assault
Soni has alleged that he finally tried to lift his considerations immediately with Pushpendra Singh.“I wished to handle this to the director who lastly referred to as me however threatened me to complete the movie or go away the lodge room in 10 minutes. He threatened to beat me up,” he alleged.The actor additional alleged that Pragati threatened to kill him.Soni claimed that he and Shreedhar Dubey subsequently determined to go away the challenge, following which the couple allegedly assaulted them.In accordance with Soni’s grievance, Pushpendra additionally allegedly threatened to die by suicide and write their names in his suicide word, whereas Pragati allegedly threatened to implicate them in false authorized instances.The actors finally contacted the police, Soni alleged.In accordance with his account, the couple requested that the shoot not be stopped, arguing that halting manufacturing would go away a number of individuals related to the movie with out work.Soni claimed that the police subsequently requested either side to resolve the dispute. The actors allegedly insisted that their pending funds be cleared earlier than they resumed taking pictures, however the matter was not settled.The actor has additionally made allegations in regards to the filmmakers taking cash from a number of individuals in reference to movie manufacturing and claimed that they had been concerned in comparable incidents beforehand. These allegations haven’t been independently verified.
AICWA calls for honest investigation
The FIR reportedly invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, together with Sections 115(2), 127(3), 3(5), 351(2) and 352, regarding allegations together with voluntarily inflicting harm, wrongful confinement, frequent intention, felony intimidation and intentional insult.AICWA mentioned it welcomed the registration of the FIR and referred to as for the investigation to be carried out “pretty, transparently and with none stress or affect”, whereas looking for applicable safety for the complainants and witnesses.The affiliation mentioned its president had additionally facilitated a gathering between Soni, Dubey and Maharashtra State House Minister Yogesh Ramdas Kadam on July 3.In accordance with AICWA, the actors knowledgeable the minister in regards to the alleged assault, compelled confinement, tearing of their garments, demise threats and pending funds. In addition they alleged that different actors, technicians and employees related to the manufacturing had not been paid.The affiliation mentioned Kadam subsequently contacted DCP Purushottam Karad and directed that the matter be investigated and applicable motion taken.With police safety, Soni and the opposite actors finally returned to Mumbai, the place the Zero FIR was filed.
Satendra Soni’s work
Soni has appeared in a number of movies and exhibits, together with Ayushmann Khurrana’s Physician G, Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Bawaal, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders and Howdy Bachhon.He gained wider recognition along with his function in Laapataa Girls, produced by Aamir Khan and directed by Kiran Rao. The movie, starring Sparsh Shrivastava, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan, was India’s official entry for the ninety fifth Academy Awards.Soni can also be related to the upcoming Mirzapur challenge.The allegations made within the FIR and grievance are but to be adjudicated, and the registration of an FIR doesn’t set up guilt.
