Actor Satendra Soni, widely recognized for his breakout performance as “Chhotu” in Kiran Rao’s critically acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies and appearances in the Mirzapur franchise, has leveled shocking criminal allegations against the production team of his upcoming film, Ped Palki. In a tearful, highly emotional video broadcasted from a remote location in Madhya Pradesh, Soni broke down while describing an atmosphere of financial exploitation, public physical assault, and an alleged attempted kidnapping orchestrated by the project’s direct-production leadership.
According to Soni, the trouble originated when he traveled to the Maihar district of Madhya Pradesh to complete an intensive eight-day shooting schedule under the direction of filmmaker Pushpendra Singh, who previously helmed Ajmer 92. Soni claims he was initially issued a formal signing amount of ₹50,000, with an explicit verbal and written contract stating that the remainder of his professional fee would be cleared mid-schedule. However, upon wrapping his primary scenes and requesting his contractually obligated pending dues, the production took a dark turn. Soni alleges that management abruptly ordered him out of his accommodation, giving him less than ten minutes to collect his physical belongings before throwing his luggage into the corridor.
“They threw my belongings out and threatened to end my life if I stayed in the vicinity. When we attempted to escape on foot, the director and his wife intercepted us on the highway. I felt as though I was actively being kidnapped in broad daylight.” — Satendra Soni, Social Media Statement
Incident Registry: Timeline of the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Dispute
| Incident Phase Timeline | Documented Physical & Financial Conflict Narratives (June 2026) | Administrative & Law Enforcement Outcomes |
| Pre-Production Contract | Initial contract finalized; Soni receives a baseline ₹50,000 advance | Remaining financial tranches scheduled to execute during MP shooting blocks |
| Post-Shoot Demand | Soni requests remaining dues after 8 days of continuous principal photography | Director terminates accommodation; orders total eviction within 10 minutes |
| The Highway Confrontation | Pushpendra Singh & Pragati Chouhan allegedly execute a vehicular block on footpaths | Co-stars Shridhar Dubey & Pankaj Sharma physically assaulted during intervention |
| Emergency SOS Deployment | Tearful video clip uploaded via Instagram detailing extortion and forced confinement | Maihar Police Department deploys intercept units to rescue the stranded cast |
Assault on the Highway and the Road Back to Mumbai
The situation escalated dramatically when Soni, alongside fellow actors Shridhar Dubey and Pankaj Sharma, attempted to flee the hostile environment on foot. According to Soni’s public statements, director Pushpendra Singh and his wife, Pragati Chouhan, pursued the trio in an SUV, tracking them down on an open highway. Soni alleges that the couple physically assaulted him on the road, with Chouhan aggressively dragging him by his clothes into the back seat of the vehicle while attempting to confiscate his mobile device. When Shridhar Dubey stepped forward to intervene and shield Soni, the director reportedly attacked Dubey as well, tearing his clothes while unleashing explicit verbal threats emphasizing local territorial dominance.
Following the distribution of the viral emergency clip, netizens and industry colleagues mobilized, tagging regional law enforcement channels. The Maihar Police Department responded by dispatching field officers to locate and secure the safety of the stranded actors. Following a brief period of operational silence, Soni released a secondary video confirmation from a railway station, standing alongside Dubey and Sharma.
The visibly relieved actor confirmed that the local MP police had fully handled their safety logistics, allowing them to board transit options back to Maharashtra. Soni concluded his warning by labeling the husband-and-wife filmmaking duo as complete frauds, advising peer actors to refuse any future professional contracts tied to their banners. At the present moment, Pushpendra Singh has not issued a formal public counter-statement regarding the police report or the assault claims.