Didn’t accuse Siddharth to seek publicity: Sheetal
TV actor Sheetal Khandal, who was part of the show lika Vadhu, recently cused her former coar Sidharth Shukla of appropriate ehaviour, when they worked together. eactions have been plenty on social edia. Some, defend ukla, while others im she wants to gyback on him currently g in the news. Sticking to er stand, Sheetal clarifies, “I don’t have any intention to seek publicity or get into a reality show that Siddharth is currently a part of.” Sheetal revealed that Sidharth used to “crack vulgar jokes and touch her inappropriately during the shoot of Balika Vadhu,” in an interview to timesofindia. indiatimes.com.
“My intention is to not accuse him now, as it’s over. But the media is projecting it like I’m accusing him (only) now. I don’t know if Sidharth has changed now. People are considering ‘inappropriate’ in a different way. People are saying “it was sexual harassment” which is entirely something else,” adds Sheetal.
We ask her how it all started, and Sheetal recalls, “He used to tease me by making vulgar comments in front of everyone. I told him that I don’t like all this. I used to feel uncomfortable with the way he would look at me. Once, during a shot, he touched my feet inappropriately. When I would be alone, he would come and say sorry. Then, people on the sets had started linking us up. There was nothing between me and him.”
According to a source, Sidharth’s reputation in the industry is not good. “He had temper issues and kayi baar woh ladkiyo ko galat nazar se dekhta tha,” the source claims.
While Sidharth remained unavailable for comment, his other co-stars have come out to defend him. Jasmin says, “Working with Sidharth was a very smooth experience. For me, it was quite unbelievable to know he would try something like this because as far as I know him, he really respects women.”
Actor Mahhi Vij, who worked with Sidharth in Fear Factor, says, “I’ve never felt uncomfortable around him. But it is something which Sheetal has gone through.”
Actor Aishwarya Sakhuja also adds, “I’ve never had any issues with Sidharth. In fact, he used to take a stand for me whenever things would go wrong.”
Balika Vadhu co-star Smita Bansal shares, “Sidharth has never misbehaved in front of me, and used to treat me with utmost respect. I can’t comment on people’s relationships because not everyone behaves in the same way towards everyone.”