Shailesh Lodha, widely recognized for his role as Taarak Mehta in the popular sitcom “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,” is going through a period of deep sorrow. The actor recently lost his father, Shyam Singh Lodha, and has expressed his grief through a heartfelt social media post that has resonated with many.
Shailesh took to Instagram to share a poignant picture with his late father, along with an emotional note that encapsulated his pain. In his post, he wrote, “जो भी हूँ…आप की परछाई हूँ….आज सुबह के सूरज ने जगत तो रोशन किया पर हमारी ज़िन्दगी में अँधेरा हो गया…..पापा ने देह त्याग दी….आंसुओं की भाषा होती तो कुछ लिख पाता…..एक बार फिर से कह दीजिये ना…बबलू” (“Whatever I am is because of you. I am your shadow. This morning’s sun may have lit the entire world, but darkness has fallen in my life. Dad has passed away. If tears could talk, I would have penned something. Please call me Bablu one more time.”)
As soon as Shailesh shared the news of his father’s passing on Instagram, fans and fellow actors from “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah” offered their condolences. Jennifer Mistry, who portrayed Mrs. Roshan in the show, commented with a heartfelt “Om shanti. Please take care.” Similarly, Ambika Ranjankar, known for her role as Komal Hathi, also expressed her sympathy, writing “Om shanti.”
Shailesh Lodha gained immense popularity through his portrayal of Taarak Mehta in the long-running show “TMKOC,” which starred Dilip Joshi. He built a significant fan base with his performance but chose to exit the series in 2022. Reports from ETimes suggest that his departure was due to issues with the show’s producer, Asit Modi, whose behavior deeply upset Shailesh.
Reflecting on his decision to leave, Shailesh shared, “Asit Kumarr Modi spoke to me in a very uncultured, derogatory tone, which I couldn’t tolerate. This wasn’t the first time. At that time, he had said, ‘Yahan par sab kaam karne waale mere naukar hai’ (Everyone working here is my servant). That time too, I objected to his language and behavior.”
The loss of his father has undoubtedly been a challenging time for Shailesh, and the outpouring of support from his fans and colleagues is a testament to the impact he has made both on and off-screen.