Laapataa Ladies Actor Satendra Soni Alleges Assault Over Unpaid Fees

Laapataa Ladies actor Satendra Soni has alleged that he was threatened, assaulted and denied payment while filming Pedh Palkhi in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh. The actor shared emotional videos on Instagram detailing the alleged incident, claiming he and fellow artistes were removed from the project after seeking payment for eight days of work.

Satendra Soni, who earned recognition for his performances in Laapataa Ladies and has appeared in projects including Doctor G, Bawaal and Raat Akeli Hai, has levelled serious allegations against filmmaker Pushpendra Singh following what he described as a traumatic experience during the shooting of the film Pedh Palkhi in Madhya Pradesh.

In videos posted on Instagram, Soni broke down while recounting the events, alleging that he had accepted the project after receiving a ₹50,000 signing amount. He said the remaining payment was promised during the schedule, but after completing eight days of a planned 10-day shoot, he and several other character artistes had still not been paid.

According to Soni, when he raised the issue of pending dues, he was allegedly instructed to leave the hotel immediately. He further claimed that Pushpendra Singh threatened him with dire consequences if he remained on the premises.

In the caption accompanying his video, Soni alleged that several members of the unit had also complained about delayed payments, suggesting the issue extended beyond his own experience. He claimed that after he questioned the payment delay, he was ordered to check out of the hotel within minutes.

The actor also alleged that Singh’s wife, Pragati Chauhan, who stars in the film, verbally abused him during the confrontation. Soni further claimed that while he, actors Shreedhar Dubey and Pankaj Sharma were leaving the location, the director and Chauhan allegedly pursued them in a vehicle.

Soni alleged that he was physically assaulted on the roadside and claimed that Shreedhar Dubey was also attacked when he attempted to intervene. These allegations have not been independently verified, and no public response from Pushpendra Singh or Pragati Chauhan was available at the time of writing.

In a subsequent video shared from Mumbai railway station, Soni confirmed that he and the other artistes had safely returned to the city after what he described as a mentally distressing ordeal.

Expressing gratitude, the actor thanked the Maihar Police for their assistance during the incident. He also acknowledged actor Ashutosh Rana, saying his support helped the artistes during a period when they felt isolated and uncertain about their safety.

Soni described the episode as the first time he had encountered such treatment during his career and said the experience had left the group emotionally shaken. He added that standing together as artistes helped them navigate the situation and return safely to Mumbai.

The allegations have also renewed attention on long-standing concerns surrounding working conditions for supporting and character artistes in the Indian film industry. Industry voices have recently highlighted recurring complaints about delayed payments, unequal treatment and limited bargaining power for actors working in secondary roles.

Character actor Jatin Negi recently spoke about payment delays affecting supporting performers, saying such artistes often wait months to receive comparatively modest fees. He also pointed to the sharp disparity between compensation for lead actors and those playing smaller roles.

Actor Sunita Rajwar similarly observed that market value frequently determines pay scales, adding that some filmmakers pressure actors into accepting little or no remuneration by presenting projects as opportunities for exposure. She noted that character artistes are often among the first to face payment reductions when productions encounter financial difficulties.

Soni has steadily built a career through supporting roles across films and television. He received appreciation for his role in Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, backed by Aamir Khan and selected as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards. His filmography also includes Hello Bachhon, while he is next expected to appear in Mirzapur: The Movie, featuring Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu and Jitendra Kumar.

At the time of publication, the allegations remain claims made by Satendra Soni through his social media posts. Neither Pushpendra Singh nor representatives associated with Pedh Palkhi have publicly responded to the accusations.