Six years and still counting: Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah

Mumbai: Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah completed 1,500 episodes last week and Dilip Joshi who plays the lead, Jethalal, is glad that the show is still popular with the audience. Dilip says, “We have completed six years and 1,500 episodes successfully and this has only been possible because of our team work. It doesn’t even feel like six years. I feel it has been just six days since we started shooting.

I still remember my first day of shoot in London.” The actor continues, “When we started the show, Tappu Sena’s kids were in school and now they are in college. Without generation leaps, we have come this far, that too with a high TRP. I want to thank God and my lovely audience. Without them, we could not have achieved this milestone.” But after so many years, isn’t he bored of playing the same character? “Everyday on the set I learn something and this learning makes the character better and better. I always feel fresh when I come to the sets, like I used to when I had just started on the show. In fact, our writer, director and producer make sure the character remains fresh and does not get boring,” Dilip says.

There are not many successful comedy shows in India, so Tarak Mehta… stands as a shining example. “It all depends on the story, the dialogues, the acting, timing, direction, editing and so on. We all work very hard and it shows. Co-ordination between actors is also very important. If you come on the sets, you’ll see how we work like a family. We discuss and share suggestions.”
Speaking of his favourite co-stars, the actor says, “All actors are my favourites and that includes the kids too.

Some of the actors I have worked with in the past too, such as Amit Bhatt (Champak Chacha), Munmun Dutta (Babitaji) and my producer Asit Kumarr Modi, who was my friend long before we started working together.” Having been part of the industry for several decades, Dilip has witnessed many major changes. “Seven to eight years ago TV shows were never shot abroad. Now the technology is advanced we shoot on HD camera. We treat these TV shows like a proper film. And all that is also because now the audience demands more.”