Punjabi singer and actor Sunanda Sharma recently opened up about the financial and mental harassment she faced in the music industry. She took to Instagram to share her ordeal, stating that her case represents many middle-class artists who fall prey to powerful figures.
‘I Thought of Ending My Life’: Sunanda Sharma Speaks Out on Alleged Harassment
Sunanda Sharma expressed her distress in an emotional social media post. Writing in Punjabi, she said, “This issue isn’t just about money; it is about the mental harassment I went through. This is about every artist who comes from a middle-class family with dreams of building a career, only to fall into the trap of crocodiles. They make us work hard and build their own homes with our income. They treat us like beggars. Oh Waheguru, your people think of themselves as greater than you.”
Sharing the emotional toll of the ordeal, Sunanda revealed that she had considered ending her life due to the immense mental harassment she faced. She wrote, “They mentally harassed me. I would cry alone in my room for days and sometimes even thought of ending my life. But I still managed to keep a smile on my face. I understood that if I cried in front of people, I would find myself trapped by another crocodile.”
She also encouraged other artists who have suffered similar exploitation to come forward and speak out against such mistreatment.
Music Producer Pushpinder Dhaliwal Arrested
The 33-year-old singer has alleged that Punjabi music producer Pushpinder Dhaliwal, also known as Pinky Dhaliwal engaged in unlawful and exploitative actions that led to severe financial losses, mental distress, and harm to her reputation. Following her complaint, Mohali police arrested Pushpinder Dhaliwal on March 8. Dhaliwal, the owner of Mad4Music and Amar Audio, was taken into custody outside his residence in Sector 71.
According to Sharma, Dhaliwal financially exploited her for years by forcing her to perform at events and concerts without giving her rightful compensation. She claimed that despite earning over ₹250 crore, she did not receive direct payments.
“Despite my earnings exceeding ₹250 crore during this period, the accused unlawfully took possession of all my income and usurped my rightful dues. Not a single payment was made to me directly. This blatant financial exploitation has severely impacted my financial stability and well-being,” she stated.
Allegations of Fraud and Deception
The FIR also mentions that Dhaliwal and his son, Gurkaran Singh Dhaliwal, allegedly deceived Sunanda by making false promises of marriage. The police are currently investigating Gurkaran's involvement in the case.
Additionally, Sunanda accused Dhaliwal and his son of forging her signatures on multiple contracts and documents. She alleged that they coerced her into signing agreements she did not fully understand, giving them control over her intellectual property, including music rights, performance rights, and other creative assets.
The Mohali police are actively investigating the case, including the allegations of financial fraud, deception, and contract forgery. Authorities are also looking into the role of Gurkaran Singh Dhaliwal.
Who is Sunanda Sharma?
Sunanda Sharma started her career by uploading cover songs on YouTube, eventually gaining popularity. Her debut single, Billi Akh, helped her rise in the Punjabi music industry and later she achieved massive success with Jaani Tera Naa. Sunanda also gained nationwide love for her song Baarish Ki Jaaye. Last year, she made her debut at the Cannes Film Festival 2024.
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