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Dilip Joshi has become a household name thanks to his remarkable portrayal of Jethalal in the long-running television series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
Dilip Joshi has appeared in movies like Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Koun. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Dilip Joshi is a beloved figure in television popularly known for his iconic portrayal of Jethalal in the hit series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. This show has captured the hearts of audiences for years, earning its place as one the longest-running TV series. Each character has a unique charm on the show but Joshi’s performance is a standout. While we enjoy his remarkable role as Jethalal, let’s take a look at some lesser-known facts about Joshi that you might not know.
Born on May 26, 1968, in a Gujarati Brahmin family, Joshi started acting at the young age of 12 and performed in theater for over 25 years. While studying for his Bachelor of Computer Applications, he won the Indian National Theater Best Actor award. In his early days, Joshi was a backstage artist for commercial stage performances but he only earned Rs 50 per role. Despite the low earnings, he remained committed to pursuing his acting aspirations.
Before becoming famous as Jethalal in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Joshi appeared in movies like Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Koun. He even had a small role in Khiladi 420. There was a time when he thought about quitting acting because he struggled to find work. Everything changed in 2008 when he got the role of Jethalal which made him a household name. Today, he reportedly earns around Rs. 1.5 lakh for each episode of the show.
Joshi’s outstanding portrayal of Jethalal has delighted audiences for many years and continues to do so. However, did you know that he wasn’t the first choice for the role? Before he was cast, actors like Rajpal Yadav, Ali Asgar, Yogesh Tripathi and Ahsaan Qureshi were approached but declined the opportunity.
If you think that’s all then hold on, there are some other interesting facts about Joshi related to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. For example, he is actually older than his on-screen father Amit Bhatt who plays Bapuji, with an age difference of four years. Besides this, Joshi helped cast his co-star Munmun Dutta, who plays Babita on the show. He recommended her for the role as the duo has worked together earlier in the show Hum Sab Baraati in 2004.
On the personal front, Dilip is married to Jaymala Joshi. They have two children: a son named Ritwik and a daughter named Neeyati. Produced by Asit Kumarr Modi, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is inspired by the weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma written by columnist Tarak Mehta for the magazine Chitralekha. The series first aired on July 28, 2008.
