Actor-comedian Upasana Singh, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), has voiced her support for Shilpa Shinde after the latter faced backlash for admitting that the sexual harassment allegations she made nearly nine years ago against Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain producer Sanjay Kohli were untrue. In a conversation with us, Upasana maintains that although Shinde’s actions were clearly wrong, her choice to openly confess and express remorse should also be considered.
Shinde’s recent disclosure on a podcast has triggered strong reactions from members of the television industry and bodies like FWICE and AICWA. While many are criticising the actor, Upasana offers a different perspective. “Shilpa herself has acknowledged that she made a mistake. She is not claiming that what she did was right,” Upasana says, adding, “I am not saying that filing a false sexual harassment complaint against the producers was justified. I do not support that at all. But we should not focus on only one side of the story. We must also try to understand the circumstances and the mental state in which a person makes such a decision.”
Having collaborated with Shilpa on three television shows, Upasana explains, “I know what kind of person she is. During shoots, if a spot boy met with an accident, if someone’s child was ill, or if anyone needed financial assistance, Shilpa was always the first to come forward. I have personally witnessed her helping people. She is a compassionate person.” The 50-year-old believes that the pressures and difficulties Shilpa might have been facing at the time could have shaped her actions. “What problems she was going through, what her financial condition was, and what circumstances she was in when she made that decision are all factors that should be taken into account. I am not saying what she did was right. I am only saying that a person’s circumstances often influence the choices they make.”
Reacting to Shilpa publicly owning up to her mistake years after the fiasco, Upasana says, “If someone comes forward and says, ‘I made a mistake, I regret it, and it has weighed heavily on my heart for years,’ that takes courage. Many of us make mistakes in life, but very few people openly admit them.” Addressing criticism and AICWA’s demand for strict action against Shilpa after her confession, Upasana feels the actor should have apologised privately instead of making a public confession. Pointing out that Kohli (producer) and the makers eventually chose to work with the actor again themselves appear willing to move on, she says, “The producers have every right to decide how they want to respond. They worked with her again.
If they truly harbored such intense anger and resentment toward her, they would not have collaborated with her again. The very fact that they did indicates that, on some level, they understood her circumstances. If the producers are willing to forgive her and continue working with her, that is an issue strictly between them. It is their choice to make. Had they wanted to take legal action, they could have done so. But if they have decided to move on, it is not our place to question that decision.
At the same time, Upasana recognises that Shilpa’s admission could harm legitimate cases of harassment and misconduct. “This should never have happened. People may now begin to doubt other cases as well, and that is regrettable. There is no question that Shilpa was in the wrong. No one should ever do something like this. It will certainly prompt scrutiny, and that is an inevitable outcome of what has occurred.”