Exclusive - Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Shyam Pathak on show's 16 Years, Popatlal's wedding and bond with co-stars

Shyam Pathak, better known as Popatlal from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, is a beloved character in Indian television. Shyam Pathak joined ETimes TV for a quick conversation where he spoke about his bond with co-stars, the recent 16 years celebration, behind-the-scenes fun and more. He also opened up about how Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has changed his life. (Photo: Instagram)

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has become an emotion it is not just a show anymore. For our audience it has become like a habit to watch the show daily at 8:30 PM while having dinner. Khana Khaate khaate unke chehron par muskurahat laana ye Humara Karm ban chuka hai. We feel fortunate that we are the reason behind spreading happiness and God has chosen us to bring smile on the audiences faces. (Photo: Instagram)

The journey of 16 years has been amazing and how this 16 years have passed we did not even realise. The channel and the production house had envisioned something like Taarak and with God’s grace it has been loved by everyone. Our Producer Asit Kumar Modi and everyone else have worked together to make this show a success. (Photo: Instagram)

The entire team works hard day in day out. It is a very tiring job but at the end of the day when we get to know that the audiences are very happy everything feels worth it. Whenever we get to know audiences reaction first hand we feel it is priceless. Aap Aur kuch bhi Kama sakte hain but audiences love is priceless. We are thankful to God and we feel fortunate. (Photo: Instagram)

Bahut baar aisa hua hai jab mere paas Shaadi ke Rishtey aaye hain. Whenever I got to any event or any function and there is a huge crowd, audience mein koi Daadi yaa naani ki age ki koi hai, toh Woh apne paas waale ko poochte hain if I am really unmarried, if not then they have a marriage proposal for me. Woh kehte hain unke paas Accha rishta hai. Wherever I go I get asked these two questions ke “Aapki sach mein Shaadi hui hai Yaa nahi Aur aap ka chaata Kahan hai?”. (Photo: Instagram)

There have many times when our Producer Asit bhai has got calls and fans have told him arre aapko nahi mil rahi hai Popatlal ke liye ladki toh hum dhoondh dete hai… but please get Popatlal married. This proves how much audiences are involved in watching our show and how eagerly they are looking forward to Popatlal’s marriage. They are too attached with us, when the last time Popatlal did not get married, they started trolling and abusing Dr Haathi. They were telling him what was the need to reveal that his would be wife was suffering from Thalassemia. Agar unki Shaadi horahi thi toh hone dete. (Photo: Instagram)

From the beginning Dilip bhai, Mandar, Amit and I, we used to share the same makeup room. It has become an extended family because we all spent together almost 12 hours on the sets daily. The last 16 years we have followed this pattern where we come to the sets, shoot together, have lot of fun and then go home. Kahan ye waqt beet Gaya pata he nahi chala. When we hear we have completed 16 years then it hits us that we have spent so much time together. Hum bahut mazak karte hain, masti karte hain, leg pulling hoti hai Ek dusre ki… we learn our scenes together, rehearse our lines and we have had lots of fun together. (Photo: Instagram)

My personality is very different from Popatlal. We are like poles apart agar main North Pole hoon toh Popatlal South Pole hai. Like I am very quiet, soft spoken and very thoughtful but Popatlal is very blunt, gets angry very easily. His day begins by fighting with milkman and newspaper boy, he’s always behind Bhide. At the same time Popatlal has a heart of gold and he keeps messing with people. Woh single pasli hai but kehte rehte hain duniya hila dunga. (Photo: Instagram)

As an actor I have a great time portraying the character. I will always thank Asit Kumar Modi for giving him this role and that he saw the potential in me that I could play this role. I had joined the show after 6 months of it going air. It has been an amazing journey and I’ve got lots of love from the fans. (Photo: Instagram)