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Despite Jethalal being happily married to Dayaben, his playful admiration and soft corner for his neighbour Babita have become a key element of the show.
TMKOC airs daily on Sab TV.
(Photo Credits: Instagram)
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC), the longest-running and beloved sitcom on Indian television, continues to be a fan favourite. Beyond its light-hearted narratives, the show has been making headlines for various reasons in recent times. One of the highlights of TMKOC is the unique chemistry between Jethalal Champaklal Gada (portrayed brilliantly by Dilip Joshi) and Babita Iyer (played by Munmun Dutta).
Despite Jethalal being happily married to Dayaben (originally played by Disha Vakani), his playful admiration and soft corner for his neighbour Babita have become a key element of the show. This on-screen chemistry has often led to fan discussions and playful teasing that the actor once had to clarify that he was quite different in the real world than how he was portrayed in the show.
In an old interview with DNA in 2019, Dilip addressed the comments surrounding his character’s bond with Babita. Clarifying his real-life persona, Joshi stated, “First of all, I don’t have a Babita in my life.”
He further elaborated on the on-screen chemistry between characters Jethalal and Babita Iyer, asserting, “I’ve always maintained from day one that there is no vulgarity involved in Babita-Jethalal’s relationship. There’s innocence in it. I don’t think I have crossed the line.”
Dilip Joshi and Munmun Dutta have been an integral part of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah since its inception. Joshi’s portrayal of the endearing Jethalal has garnered immense love from viewers. He was initially paired opposite Disha Vakani, whose portrayal of the iconic Dayaben became the heart of the show. However, Disha Vakani’s exit from the show since her maternity leave in 2017 has left a void, with fans eagerly awaiting her potential return.
In recent years, TMKOC has remained in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons other than its comedic storylines. The show faced a wave of controversies following the abrupt departures of several key actors. Several prominent actors, including Neha Mehta (who played Anjali Mehta), Shailesh Lodha (Taarak Mehta), Palak Sindhwani (Sonu Bhide), and Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal (Roshan Singh Sodhi), have quit the show, citing various reasons, including allegations of unacceptable behaviour on set.
Despite these controversies, the current cast continues to bring laughter to audiences. The cast includes Amit Bhatt (Champaklal Gada), Dilip Joshi (Jethalal Gada), Munmun Dutta (Babita Iyer), Mandar Chandwadkar (Aatmaram Bhide), Sonalika Joshi (Madhavi Bhide), Mayur Vakani (Sundarlal), Shyam Pathak (Popatlal), Sharad Sankla (Abdul), and Tanuj Mahashabde (Krishnan Iyer), among others.