Satendra Soni alleges non-payment, death threats. (Photos: Satendra Soni/ Instagram)Actor Satendra Soni, known for his roles in Laapataa Ladies and Mirzapur, shared an emotional Instagram video on Sunday, alleging that he had a distressing experience during a film shoot in Madhya Pradesh. In the video, Satendra claimed that filmmaker Pushpendra Singh removed him and several other character artistes from the project after they sought payment for eight days of work. He further alleged that Pushpendra threatened to kill them.Satendra Soni alleges filmmaker Pushpendra Singh threatened to kill himIn the Instagram video, an emotional Satendra Soni said, “I came to Mahiar to do a film directed by Pushpendra Singh called Pedh Palkhi. He had given us Rs 50000 as signing amount. After that, he had told us that we would be paid during the shooting. It’s been eight days since we started shooting, and when we asked him for money, he asked us to pack up and leave the hotel. He even threatened to kill us.”Also Read: Bollywood’s ‘caste system’: Food in A, B, C categories; character actors paid after 90 days View this post on Instagram A post shared by Satendra Soni (@satendrassoni) In the caption, Satendra went on to elaborate and wrote, “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 Rs 50,000 in advance to come to shoot, and committed to make the rest of the payment during the shoot. 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.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Satendra Soni (@satendrassoni) Satendra Soni later shared a video confirming that they had safely reached Mumbai after receiving help from the Maihar police, actor Ashutosh Rana and others. In the video, Satendra said, “We have safely reached Mumbai. Maihar police have supported us immensely; others also helped us. It has been a very tough journey, but we are back in Mumbai. We were mentally very disturbed. This was the first time we faced something like this. It’s a lesson for us. We were shocked and needed someone to motivate us. We have reached Mumbai with great difficulty, but we are safe now. Ashutosh Rana also helped us a lot. We were feeling alone. The way he behaved made it clear that his motive was different, but we artistes stood together and somehow managed to return.”Also Read | Akanksha Chamola confirms divorce with Gaurav Khanna: ‘Living separately for one year’Mistreatment of character artistsLast week, SCREEN reported on the mistreatment of character artistes on film sets. The incident involving Satendra Soni is yet another reminder of the challenges these actors continue to face, particularly when it comes to payments and job security. In the interview with SCREEN, character artiste Jatin Negi said, “Payments for secondary and tertiary characters are often delayed. If you are playing a character role, it will be very difficult for you to get paid Rs 5 lakhs. If the film flops, people say they invested everything in the project, and there is nothing left to pay others. There is a huge difference in the amounts paid to leads and character artists. Tertiary characters are hired for Rs 5000 per day. There could be a deal where they have to work for two days, and they are getting Rs 8-10,000 after 2 months. Character artists generally don’t get respected; your role decides the respect you get.”Actor Sunita Rajwar, meanwhile, shared, “Everyone is paid differently; it depends on market value. Every director, even some big names, tries to make artists work for free, saying that they are getting a platform. There are actors who get paid more for working for five days as compared to those who work for 15 days. I have heard that character artists are the first ones to suffer during losses or pay cuts; I have not experienced it. But a friend was once told her payment would be reduced since the project faced losses.”DISCLAIMER: This article reports on personal accounts of emotional distress and professional hardship within the entertainment industry based on unverified social media claims. The details presented are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional or legal advice.Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector. Experience & Career Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media: The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments. Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media. Expertise & Focus Areas Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include: Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles. OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres. Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends. Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community. Authoritativeness & Trust With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... 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