The actor behind the character: Know Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's cast off screen

The show, which went on air on July 28, 2008, is based on the column Duniya Ne Undha Chashma written by columnist and journalist/playwright Taarak Mehta for the Gujarati weekly magazine Chitralekha. From Jethalal to Tapu Sena, know about the characters in real life

Updated On: 2022-07-27 02:43 PM IST

A collage of TMKOC characters

Jethalal Champaklal Gada: Actor Dilip Joshi has been one of the most familiar comedians on the big screen as well as on television. He is also a seasoned Gujarati theatre actor. He made his debut in 1989 with the film Maine Pyaar Kiya and went on to play notable characters in films such as Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Some of the most popular TV shows that Joshi was part of were Yeh Duniya Hai Rangeen, Hum Sab Ek Hain, Kya Baat Hai, Daal Mein Kala and Meri Biwi Wonderful

Daya Jethalal Gada: Actress Disha Vakani too started her career as a theatre artist. She was part of Gujarati plays such as Kamal Patel v/s Dhamal Patel and Lali Lila. Before gaining fame as Jethalal's wife Daya aka Dayaben, Disha even featured in Bollywood films - Devdas (2002) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008) as the supporting cast

Tipendra aka Tapu Jethalal Gada: He was merely 11 when Bhavya Gandhi joined the cast of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as Jethalal and Daya's son. Bhavya played the role of Tapu for a good nine years. Meanwhile, he starred in the not-so-popular Bollywood film Striker (2010) as a child actor. He quit the show to explore theatre. Some of the popular Gujarati plays and films that Bhavya has been part of are - Baap Kamaal Dikro Dhamaal and Pappa Tamne Nahi Samjaay. He also starred in a Gujarati movie Pappa Tamne Nahi Samjaay in 2017

Tipendra aka Tapu Jethalal Gada: After Bhavya Gandhi's exit, actor Raj Anadkat replaced Bhavya Gandhi as Tipendra aka Tapu in the show. Raj started his acting career with the TV show Ek Rishta Saajhedaari Ka

Champaklal Jayantilal Gada: Though actor Amit Bhatt rose to fame as Jethalal's Bapuji (father) Champaklal Gada in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, he had appeared in several television shows before such as Khichdi (2002) and F.I.R (2006). He is a seasoned Gujarati theatre artist and has been part of Gujarati plays for over two decades now. Interestingly, Amit Bhatt is four years younger than his on-screen son Dilip Joshi

Daya's brother Sundarlal: Not many are aware that the brother-sister duo of Daya and Sundar are siblings in real life too. Actor Mayur Vakani is younger to Disha Vakani. Another interesting fact about Mayur is he is a sculptor and painter by profession in real-life. Mayur has done M.A. in Indian Culture and Diploma in Sculpture and Drama

Taarak Janubhai Mehta and wife Anjali: Shailesh Lodha, before bagging Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, had first appeared on Comedy Circus as a contestant, and later also was seen in Comedy ka Mahamukabla. He has been the presenter of the TV show Wah! Wah! Kya Baat Hai! Shailesh's on-screen wife Neha Mehta is popular as Anjali Bhabhi from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. After performing in Gujarati theatre for many years, Neha stepped in the telly world in 2001 with the TV show Dollar Bahu. Neha Mehta was also part of other popular television shows such as - Sau Dada Sasu Na (Gujarati show), Raat Hone Ko Hai (2004) and Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand (2004-2005). In October 2020, actress Sunayana Fozdar replaced Neha Mehta as Anjali

Krishnan Subramaniam Iyer and wife Babita: Actress Munmun Dutta, who played Krishnan Iyer's wife and Jethalal's crush Babitaji, made her acting debut in Zee TV's 2004 sitcom Hum Sab Baraati. Dutta made her debut on the big screen in 2005 as she featured in Kamal Haasan's Mumbai Xpress. In 2006, she also appeared in Pooja Bhatt's directorial Holiday. Talking about actor Tanuj Mahashabde, who plays Krishnan, he had been part of CID in one of the episodes

Aatmaram Tukaram Bhide and wife Madhavi: Actor Mandar Chandwadkar, who plays the role of tuition teacher 'Bhide master' and Gokuldham society's secretary, is a mechanical engineer by profession and also a blogger. He has acted in various Marathi shows and films too. Sonalika Joshi, Bhide's wife Madhavi in real life, is six years older to Mandar. She is a seasoned Marathi actress as well

Dr Hansraj Baldevraj Hathi and wife Komal: Actor Nirmal Soni, who plays Dr Hathi, has been a popular comedian seen in several films in supporting roles. While Dr Hathi was initially played by actor Kavi Kumar Azad, after his sudden demise in 2018, Soni stepped into his shoes. Interestingly, Azad replaced actor Nirmal Soni as Dr Hathi, who played the role for a year since the show's inception, in 2009. Talking about actress Ambika Ranjankar who plays Komal Hathi, she has been part of showbiz for more than two decades now. Just like many other cast members of TMKOC, Ambika too has been part of Gujarati theatre

Roshan Singh Harjeet Singh Sodhi and wife Roshan: Now here's an interesting fact about Roshan Singh Sodhi's real life! Roshan's real name is Gurucharan Singh and in the show, his son's on-screen name is his real-life name, Gurucharan Singh Sodhi (Gogi). Balwinder Singh Suri replaced Gurucharan Singh as Sodhi in 2020. Actress Jennifer Mistry, best know as Roshan Bhabhi, has been seen in the famous TV show Naagin in 2015! On the film front, Jennifer has had brief roles in films such as Akshay Kumar's Airlift (2016), Krazzy 4 (2008) and Shahid Kapoor's Luck by Chance (2009). She was replaced by actress Dilkhush Reporter between 2013 to 2016. However, Jennifer was back and is very much part of the show ever since

Popatlal Bhagwatiprasad Pandey: As ironical as it may sound, the eternal bachelor of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Popatlal, played by actor Shyam Pathak, is married and has three kids in real life. Also, while Shyam plays a journalist in the show, he is a chartered accountant in real life

Natwarlal Prabhashankar Udhaiwala (Nattu Kaka): Actor Ghanshyam Nayak, who played Jethalal's employee in his store, Gada Electronics, and also Bagha's paternal uncle, was a seasoned actor who has acted in over 200 Gujarati and Hindi Films and around 350 Hindi television shows. Ghanshyam Nayak was also a good singer and has given playback in many Gujarati films. Nattu kaka passed away in 2021, October 3

Bagheshwar Dadukh Udhaiwala (Bagha): Now, here's another interesting fact about Bagha aka actor Tanmay Vekaria. The actor has featured in 2009 film Dhoondte Reh Jaoge, which starred Kunal Kemmu, Soha Ali Khan, Sonu Sood, Johnny Lever and Paresh Rawal in pivotal roles. What's interesting here is actor Dilip Joshi and Amit Bhatt too were part of the film. The trio had limited roles in the film.

Abdul: Actor Sharad Sankla, who plays a grocery shop owner where the gentlemen of the Gokuldham society meet up after dinner for general discussions, has come a long way in the industry. From being the Charlie Chaplin look-a-like character in Shah Rukh Khan's Baajigar, who has a crush on Shilpa Shetty, to Abdul Miyaa, the veteran actor has been part of the film industry for over 30 years now

Tapu Sena: Tapu, Sonu, Gogi, Golu, and Pinku have their small gang called 'Tapu Sena' who share a great friendship from childhood and set examples for society. In picture: (L to R) Azhar Shaikh, Kush Shah, Bhavya Gandhi, Nidhi Bhanushali and Samay Shah. In real life, Bhavya and Samay are cousins

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