Laapataa Ladies actor Satendra Soni has filed a police complaint against filmmaker Pushpendra Singh and his wife, actor Pragati Chauhan, alleging non-payment, harassment and mistreatment during the shoot of their film Paid Paalki. The actor has accused the couple of promising him a role but failing to honour their financial commitments. He also alleged that he was subjected to derogatory remarks over his appearance and dwarfism, affecting his mental, physical and financial well-being.
The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has extended support to Soni and actor Shreedhar Dubey, whose name also figures in the association's statement on the alleged incident. According to the complaint, Soni described himself as a struggling actor who depends on acting for his livelihood and stated that he has dwarfism.
Soni alleged that he first met Pushpendra around one-and-a-half years ago, when the filmmaker offered him a role in Shubh Sandesh. After the project was shelved, Singh allegedly contacted him again on April 1, 2026, informing him that the film had been renamed Paid Paalki and would begin production. Soni claimed he was finalised at Rs 30,000 per day, with his total remuneration fixed at Rs 3 lakh. He allegedly received Rs 50,000 as an advance, with the balance promised in instalments.
According to his complaint, payment disputes began after he reached the film's Madhya Pradesh shooting location. Soni also alleged inadequate facilities, including a lack of proper vanity vans, poor sanitation and stale food being served to the cast and crew. The actor further alleged that he was mocked over his appearance and dwarfism. He claimed some locals lifted him and took photographs without his consent, while the production team allegedly failed to ensure his safety. Soni said his objections were ignored.
He alleged that Raja Chaudhary, an assistant director and his point of contact, discussed the matter with Pragati Chauhan, following which she allegedly abused him and refused to clear his dues. "She called me a dwarf, abused me and refused to make my payment," Soni alleged. He further claimed the incident triggered a panic attack. "I was shivering, but nobody came to help me. There were no medical facilities available. The food was stale," he added.
Soni claimed Pushpendra later warned him of consequences if he refused to complete the film. He also alleged that Pragati threatened to kill him. According to his complaint, when he and Shreedhar Dubey decided to leave the project, the couple allegedly assaulted them. Soni further alleged that Pushpendra threatened to die by suicide and name the actors in his note, while Pragati allegedly threatened to implicate them in false cases.
The actors eventually approached the police. Soni claimed the couple requested that the shoot not be halted, citing the impact on the crew. Police allegedly advised both sides to resolve the dispute, but the actors maintained they would return only after receiving their pending payments. No settlement was reached, according to Soni.
Soni has also made allegations of the couple collecting money from others while promising to make a film and claimed they had been involved in similar incidents previously. These allegations have not been independently verified. Soni and the other actors eventually returned to Mumbai under police protection, following which a Zero FIR was registered.
