Asit Kumarr Modi is an Indian TV producer, director, and actor. He is the founder of the film & TV production house Neela Tele Films Private Limited. He is known for producing the popular Hindi sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ (2008). In 2023, the Indian TV actress Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal accused him of sexual harassment.
Wiki/Biography
Asit Kumarr Modi also spelt as Asit Kumar Modi aka Asit Modi was born on Saturday, 24 December 1966 (age 56 years; as of 2022) in Pune, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. From 1969 to 1982, he did his schooling at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vidyalaya, Mumbai. From 1983 to 1987, he pursued B.Com at Shri Chinai College of Commerce & Economics, Mumbai.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Asit belongs to a Gujarati family.
Parents & Siblings
There is not much information about his parents and siblings.
Wife & Children
His wife’s name is Neela Modi. He has a daughter and a son.
Asit Kumarr Modi and his wife
Asit Kumarr Modi and his daughter
Career
In the initial phase of his career, he worked as a lighting designer for a few Gujarati theatre plays. He has also worked in the production and creative department of various TV serials like ‘Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh’ (1994; Hindi) for DD Metro and ‘Kondmara’ (1996; Marathi) for DD Marathi. He has also managed the production and marketing department of a few Gujarati TV serials like ‘Miyan Fuski,’ ‘Parinam,’ and ‘Aahwan.’ Asit has also worked as a theatre actor, technician, and assistant director. In 1995, he started a film & TV production house Neela Film Productions Private Limited, which is named after his wife Neela. He made his debut as a TV producer with the Hindi TV serial ‘Hum Sab Ek Hai’ (1998), which aired on Sony TV.
Hum Sab Ek Hai
In 2008, he produced the popular Hindi TV sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,’ which is based on the Chitralekha magazine’s weekly column ‘Duniya Ne Undha Chasma’ by Taarak Mehta. The show is aired on SAB TV.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
He has also appeared in a few episodes of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
Asit Kumarr Modi in an episode of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Some of his other TV shows as a producer are ‘Krishnaben Khakhrawala’ (2010; Sony), ‘Wah! Wah! Kya Baat hai!’ (2013; SAB TV), and ‘Sab Khelo Sab Jeetto’ (2013; SAB TV). In 2021, Asit produced the animated television series ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Chhota Chashmah’ based on the TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, which aired on Sony Yay.
Taarak Mehta Ka Chhota Chashmah
Controversies
Accusations of Not Paying Fees
Neha Mehta
In 2020, the Indian TV actress Neha Mehta, who played the role of Anjali Mehta in the Hindi sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ (2008) quit the show. In an interview, when Neha was asked about quitting the show after working in it for almost 12 years, she said that her fees was due with the makers, and they were not paying her fees. She said that she even asked Asit to clear her payments. She said,
I acted in Taarak Mehta as Anjali for 12 years before quitting in 2020. The last six months’ money is pending. After I quit the show, I called them a few times regarding my pending dues. I don’t like complaining… hopefully, there will be a solution soon and I will get my hard-earned money.”
Later, in an interview, an official from Asit’s team said that Asit was upset over Neha’s remark and said that Neha had left the show without informing them and stopped replying to their calls. The official said that as Neha did not complete the exit formalities, she was not eligible for a full and final settlement.
Shailesh Lodha
Another actor from ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,’ Shailesh Lodha left the show in 2021 over payment issues with Asit. He played the role of Taarak Mehta in the sitcom for almost 14 years. Reportedly, he filed a complaint against Modi for not clearing his dues. He even initiated a corporate insolvency resolution under section 9 at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Later, Lodha uploaded a cryptic post on his Instagram account hinting towards his feud with Asit. In an interview, an official from Asit’s team talked about the matter. The official said,
There isn’t much to say that hasn’t been said earlier. Shailesh Lodha has been like a family only. When he left we respected that. And on numerous occasions through email and on telephone we have requested him to come to the office to sign all required paperwork and take his remaining numeration. We have never denied or refused to give his payment. In every company when people leave, they have to sign full and final papers before complete payment is released. Where is the issue? Instead of going around and complaining, isn’t it better to simply follow the regular procedure? We are not pursuing any case, because we did not refuse to give his payment. We have already informed sir (Lodha) to take his dues and sign the required papers.”
Later, in an interview, Asit said that he never refused to clear his payments. Asit said that he was upset with Shailesh for targeting him with his couplets and poems at various events. Later, while addressing the media, Shailesh said that no producer could be bigger than the actor.
Accused of Sexual Harassment
In 2023, Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, another actor from the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, quit the show. She accused Asit and his team of being unfair to her. She even accused Asit, and his team members Sohil Ramani and Jatin Bajaj of sexual harassment. In an interview, while talking about it, Jennifer said that when she asked for a leave from the makers, they asked her to leave the sets of the show. She said that the makers have been unfair to her several times in past. She further talked about the sexual harassment she faced on the sets of the show. She revealed that once Asit made a vulgar comment about her. According to Jennifer, Asit said,
Aj toh anniversary nahi hai. koi guilt nahi hai, aa jao room mein. The next day, he says aap bohot sundar lag rahi ho, tumhare hoth bohot sundar hai, mann kar raha hai pakadh ke kiss kardu.”
In an interview, when Asit was asked about the allegations, he said,
We will take legal action as she is trying to defame me and the show both. Since we terminated her services, she is making these baseless allegations.”
The team members of Asit Modi, Sohil Ramani and Jatin Bajaj said that Jennifer used to misbehave with the team of the sitcom. They said that she even damaged the set property, and she was terminated because of her bad behaviour.
Awards
- Award at the 5th National Conference organized by the HR Club
- 9th Annual Gujarati Screen & Stage Award
- Maharathi Award for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
- Apsara Award by Producers Guild of India
- Big Gujarati Entertainment Award
- Best Serial for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah by Big Star Entertainment Award
- Girnar Award by Bruhad Mumbai Gujrati Samaj
- Gujarat Gaurav Award by Divya Bhaskar
- Indian Television Academy Award
- Best Comedy Series of the Year for the show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
- Lions Gold Awards by Lions Club of Mumbai
- National Achievement Award
- Best Entertainment for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
- Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award for Best TV Series for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
- People’s Choice Award by Viacom 18
- SAB Ke Anokhe Awards by MSM Network India
- Reliance Big TV Award by Reliance Entertainment
- Laadla Parivar for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah
Facts/Trivia
- While he was studying in college, he won various awards for directing and acting in plays.
- He can speak various languages such as Hindi, English, Gujarati, and Marathi.
- In 2001, he bought the rights of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and approached various TV channels to air his concept of making Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as serial. However, his idea of making a sitcom was rejected as at that time there was a trend of saas-bahu daily soaps. He struggled for almost eight years to convince a TV channel to air his sitcom.
- In 2015, he was invited as a guest speaker at the Aditya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai.
Asit Kumarr Modi- Speaker at an event
- Asit appeared at one of the TEDx Talks events in 2018.
Asit Kumarr Modi as a speaker in TedX Talks
- In 2022, his show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah became the longest-running sitcom on TV (by episode count).
- Asit and his Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s team have been felicitated by various publications like Mumbai Samachar, Feelings Magazine, and Creative Club of Ahmedabad.