Exclusive - Dilip Joshi: I've always been careful that Jethalal and Babita ji's on-screen equation should not look vulgar

One of the most celebrated and popular actors of the small screen, Dilip Joshi is loved as Jethalal from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. The show, which was launched 14 years ago, still enjoys a massive fan following and the seasoned actor is one of the reasons behind the success of the show. Recently, during a media interaction, ETimes TV got a chance to interact with the senior actor and he opened up about his association with Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, missing Disha Vakani, his on-screen equation with Babita ji and more. He also opened up about his best friend from the show Shailesh Lodha's exit. (Photo: Instagram)

Yes, I miss Disha ji, we have worked together for 10 years. Hamari tuning and chemistry day one se jam gayi thi and we had a great time working together. We have shot some of the most beautiful scenes in the last 10 years and had a great time. Of course, Disha ji is a number one artist when it comes to comedy. She has an inhibited approach while doing comedy and it is very rare in female artists. She’s wonderful and a bindaas actress, and the madness she brought to the scenes, not only as an actor but as an audience also I enjoyed seeing her onscreen. Kabhi Kabhi main bhi purane clips dekhta hoon aur sochta hoon arre ye scene kab kiya tha. I have done so many scenes with her in the last 10 years. I also enjoy watching those scenes. Yes, personally I also miss Disha ji very much. Ek scene karne ka mazaa joh ek co-actor ke saath aata hai that I definitely miss it. (Photo: Instagram)

Not just as an actor but as a human being also we all have faced moments where we have lost our relatives, family friends. Joh aaya hai usse jaana toh hai he that is the fact. Phir bhi duniya chalti hai, they say the show must go on. Whenever we lose our loved ones we feel bad. But time is the best healer I would say. We don’t have any other option as change is inevitable. If you accept the change, your journey becomes easy. If you get stuck then you won’t be able to cope up and do anything in life. We have to move on in life. (Photo: Instagram)

To be very frank Disha ji is a very private person and from the time she has left the show, we haven’t spoken to each other. Whatever I get to hear about her is from the production house. It is her personal decision that she wants to give priority to her family. I think we should respect the fact that she has given 10 years of her life to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Now, her priority is her family and we should not disturb her. After all she is also an artist and whenever she will feel the urge of acting, she will return. Never say never. (Photo: Instagram)

Like I said, change is inevitable. Thodi difficulty toh hoti hai of course as a rhythm is set with your co-stars, but never say never Shailesh Bhai as bhi sakte hain wapas. (Photo: Instagram)

I am not that active on social media and frankly speaking I don’t get that much time. Like we shoot for almost 12 hours everyday and after going home whatever time I get I like to spend with my family. Social media is like a monster if once you get addicted to it, it won’t spare you. It’s better to be a little away from it. (Photo: Instagram)

I can only say one thing that God has been really kind to all of us, especially Asit Bhai. He thought of making a show years ago based on legendary humorist Taarak Bhai Mehta’s characters. He wrote for 40 years and Asit bhai took a decision, made a show on his writings and gave all of us a chance to act in it. God has been very kind that people loved us and they still watch our show. As we all know, shows and films come and go but we have managed to make a world record. We have made a record that a sitcom has had such a successful run for 14 years. It has only happened because of God’s favour. (Photo: Instagram)

When we started the show and the banter was created between Babita ji and my character Jethalal, I was very clear that my relationship with her on the show should not go beyond limit. There’s a very thin line agar thoda sa bhi upar Yaa yahan wahan hogaya toh it will look vulgar. It should have piousness. Jaise harr joh purush hota hai usse khubsurat aurat achi lagti hai. It is not more than that and he doesn’t have any malice in his heart. Like if two male can be friends why can’t a man and a woman be friends. I have always been very careful about it. The biggest compliment I would say is that I was shooting in Gujarat somewhere and a few women who were of grandmother's age came up to me and they told me that we enjoy watching Babita ji and your story angle. If that generation also enjoys watching us who are considered orthodox then we are going in the right direction. (Photo: Instagram)

I’ve been a theatre artist and before I took up Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, I worked for 25 years in theatre. So our training has been such that once my makeup comes off, I am Dilip Joshi. Ek baar mooch utar gayi toh main Dilip Joshi hogaya… Aur pehna li toh Jethalal hogaya. This clarity I’ve always had. (Photo: Instagram)