Geeta Tandon Alleges She and Her Son Waited Nearly Nine Hours on India Ke Top 1% Set
Bollywood stuntwoman and stunt director Geeta Tandon has criticised the way she says she and her son were treated during a visit to the set of Star Plus quiz show India Ke Top 1%. In a social media post, Tandon alleged that the pair waited for almost nine hours after being invited to appear as guests, with little information about when—or whether—their segment would be filmed.
Tandon said she had agreed to take part without payment, expecting the appearance to offer a chance to share her story and gain visibility. Instead, she described the experience as disappointing and disrespectful, raising concerns about how guests and behind-the-scenes professionals are treated in the entertainment industry.
What Geeta Tandon said about the shoot
In her post, Tandon introduced herself as a film and television professional with more than two decades of experience. She has worked as a body double for leading actresses and as a stunt director, roles that often place her behind the camera despite requiring considerable skill, preparation and physical risk.
“20 years in this industry. And yesterday, I was reminded how little respect people working behind the scenes are sometimes given,” she wrote, describing the incident as a troubling reminder of the unequal treatment that can exist on a production set.
Tandon said the show’s team had contacted her repeatedly about appearing on the programme. She alleged that she set aside a day’s work and that her son returned from Goa specifically to join her for the shoot. According to her account, they arrived at the set at around 12:30 p.m. and were told that their segment would be recorded within a few hours.
She claimed the wait stretched through the afternoon and evening, while she and her son sat in a tent without clear updates about the schedule. Tandon said that when she eventually asked the production team for clarification, the response made her feel that they were not free to leave.
She attributed the following remark to production manager Jaydeep: “If they want to leave, let them leave. But they can’t leave without signing.” Tandon questioned what the document was and why, as she put it, anyone should feel unable to leave after being kept waiting all day. She said she and her son finally left at approximately 9:15 p.m.—nearly nine hours after arriving.
Why the unpaid appearance mattered to her
Tandon emphasised that she had not been paid to appear. Her complaint, she said, was not about missing out on a fee, but about the basic courtesy and communication she believed guests should receive. When people are invited to participate in a production, a clear schedule and timely updates can help them make informed decisions about their work and personal commitments.
Her account also points to a wider issue in television and film production: long and unpredictable shoot days are common, but guests and crew members still need to know what is happening. Delays may arise for many reasons, including changes to a running order or technical requirements. However, without communication, even a routine scheduling problem can leave people feeling overlooked.
Message to Anil Kapoor, Farah Khan and Banijay Asia
India Ke Top 1% is hosted by Anil Kapoor and airs on Star Plus, with episodes also available to stream on JioHotstar. The game show features around 100 participants competing for prize money of up to Rs. 1 crore. Tandon addressed Kapoor, filmmaker and television personality Farah Khan, and production company Banijay Asia in her post.
She clarified that she did not know how much the host, Khan or the company’s senior team knew about the alleged incident. She also said she was not claiming that they had personally directed anyone to treat her or her son poorly. Her stated aim was to make them aware of what she said happened to guests invited onto the show.
At the time of publication, no response to Tandon’s allegations had been included from the show’s production team, Banijay Asia, Anil Kapoor or Farah Khan. Her claims remain her account of the events, and further information from the people or organisations named may provide additional context.
A call for respect for behind-the-scenes workers
Beyond her experience on the set, Tandon used the post to draw attention to the people whose work is essential to film and television but who may receive less public recognition than performers in front of the camera. She dedicated her message to stunt professionals, junior artists, body doubles, technicians, background performers and other guests.
“The person standing behind the camera deserves the same dignity as the person standing in front of it,” she wrote. The statement reflects a longstanding concern in Bollywood and the wider entertainment industry: that respect should not depend on fame, screen time or a person’s position in the credits.
Stunt performers and body doubles, in particular, contribute specialised expertise that helps productions bring demanding scenes to life. Their work can involve careful coordination, rehearsal and safety planning, even when audiences may never learn who performed a sequence. Tandon’s comments bring that often-unseen labour into focus and underline why professional courtesy matters across every level of a production.
Her account has prompted renewed discussion about guest management, working conditions and communication on television sets. Whether or not more details emerge, the central point of her complaint is straightforward: people who give their time to a production should be treated with consideration. In an industry built on collaboration, that standard applies to stars, crew members and invited guests alike.
