Paridhi Sharma, widely admired for her portrayal of Jodha in Zee TV’s iconic historical drama Jodha Akbar, has once again found herself in the spotlight as she addresses a controversy that first surfaced nearly a decade ago. In 2014, reports circulated claiming the actress had accused the show’s director, Santram Verma, of sexual harassment, creating a stir across the television industry. The rumours stayed alive for years, but the actress never offered a detailed clarification—until now.
In an interview with Zoom/Telly Talk, Paridhi finally revisited the incident, clarifying what she truly said back then and how her words had been misrepresented. She revealed that her statement from 2014 had been altered by sections of the media, and that she never used the term that was widely reported.
Paridhi stated, “I used the mental harassment word. And media ne usey dusre word se circulate kar dia tha.” (English translation: “I used the term ‘mental harassment’. And the media circulated it using another word.”)
Reflecting on the experience, she added that she has moved on, but the takeaway from that phase is something she wishes every newcomer would understand. Paridhi explained how young actors often feel intimidated, especially by those in positions of authority, but stressed that respect should not come at the cost of one’s well-being.
She said, “Seriously, I have overcome that thing. If I can take away something (from that incident, it is that)… ek naye actor hai na, uske andar ek darr bohot hota hai especially director ka. Aap respect karo, but iss kadar tak saamne wale ko havi mat hone do ki aapki personal space ya personally aapko torture karne tak ki ispe aajaiye. Vo stand har ko actor ko lena (chahiye), especially agar newcomer hai.”
(English translation: “A new actor has a lot of fear, especially of the director. Respect them, but never let anyone overpower you to the extent that they intrude on your personal space or torture you personally. Every actor, especially newcomers, must take that stand.”)
