Satendra Soni, known for his memorable appearance in Aamir Khan‘s acclaimed film ‘Laapataa Ladies’, found himself in a deeply troubling situation that he felt compelled to share with the world on social media. In an emotional and tearful video, he opened up about being denied his rightful payment after shooting a film in Madhya Pradesh. To make matters worse, when he simply asked for the money he had earned, he was met with threats of being beaten up. The heartbreaking video quickly gained attention and moved many people, including the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), which has now officially acknowledged the actor’s plight and addressed the issue on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
What did AICWA say about Satendra Soni’s non-payment allegations?
The AICWA opened its note by detailing the incident and expressing deep concern over the matter. They wrote: “Actor Satendra Soni, who appeared in Laapataa Ladies, has publicly alleged that he was called to Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, for a film shoot. According to him, despite working for 8 days, he was not paid his agreed remuneration. He stated that he received only an advance of Rs. 50,000 and further alleged that he was threatened by the film’s producer and director. The emotional video shared by Satendra Soni reflects the pain and distress he says he has endured. His allegations raise serious concerns about the treatment of artists and workers in the Indian film industry. No artist or worker should have to endure such treatment.” The note further read, “Many workers and artists allege that they are called for film shoots with promises of work, but later face delays or denial of payment and are allegedly subjected to intimidation when they demand their rightful dues. Such complaints deserve serious attention. By publicly sharing his emotional video, Satendra Soni has brought these concerns into the public domain and highlighted the hardships that artists and workers may face.”
What action has AICWA demanded for Satendra Soni’s case?
Calling for swift and decisive action, the AICWA made it very clear that this was not a matter to be taken lightly. They stated, “This is not a minor matter. The Government of Madhya Pradesh should take immediate cognizance of this issue and ensure a fair and impartial investigation. Every worker and artist deserves dignity, timely payment, and protection from intimidation. All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) urges the Honourable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mohan Yadav, to direct the police to register an FIR against the producer and director based on the allegations made by actor Satendra Soni and to ensure the safety and security of film workers and artists in Madhya Pradesh.“
What did Satendra Soni reveal in his Instagram post about the incident?
Satendra himself took to Instagram to explain the entire situation in detail through a heartfelt caption written in Hindi. He shared, “Hello, my name is Satendra Soni. I am an actor. I went to Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, to shoot for a film called Ped Palki. The director and producer for it is Pushpendra Singh, who also made Ajmer 92. They just sent me ₹50,000 in advance to come to shoot, and committed to make the rest of the payment during the shoot.”He added, “I had a total of 10 days’ job of shooting. After 7-8 days, they didn’t pay me anything. There, I also heard people in the unit saying no one got paid. When I asked about payment, I was told to pack up. Pushpendra started threatening me and said, ‘You check out from the hotel in 10 minutes, you should not be seen in the hotel, or else we will kill you.’ His wife, Pragati Chauhan, who was the heroine of the movie, also scolded and hurled dirty abuses at me. I was very scared, and as I started checking out of the hotel in fear. Shreedhar Dubey and Pankaj Sharma also came with me.”
What other projects has Satendra Soni been a part of?
Satendra Soni has been a part of several popular films and shows including ‘Doctor G’, ‘Bawaal’, ‘Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders’ and the television show ‘Hello Bachhon’, where he played small but memorable roles that were appreciated by audiences.
