Asit Kumarr Modi, the show’s creator, takes a trip down memory lane to reflect on the journey and success of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as it becomes 14 years old.
The fact that Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Hai has been on the air for 14 years is an outstanding accomplishment. The show is particularly noteworthy for its creator Asit Kumar Modi, who had to wait six years for it to begin airing.
There is a lot of enthusiasm as well as a sense of duty. The expectations are increasing as time passes. As the programme celebrated its 14th anniversary this year, Asit said in an interview, “I simply hope we can keep entertaining our audiences as always and bringing more smiles to people.
The SAB TV show has been airing since 2008, making it the longest-running programme on Indian television. describing how the idea for the show was rejected by the majority because comedies were only broadcast on the weekends and saas-bahu dramas dominated television. It was difficult to conceive that on a daily basis, people would tolerate comedy. “However, we had faith in our idea and were confident that the public would connect with it. Even though it was novel, it was something that made people grin. He said with a smile, “I’m delighted we were able to do what we set out to do.
Asit Kumarr Modi recalled the times when he would approach channels with the script and that nobody was willing to accept it. He mentioned that he had knocked on all the doors but had been refused entry. He would go home disheartened since nobody could understand the show. Six years passed after he began his journey in 2002 until he finally signed a contract with SAB TV.
I was asked if I wanted to do anything when the then-CEO NP Singh informed me that Sony Pictures was re-formatting SAB as a comedy channel. Although there was no budget and I knew I would lose money, he liked the idea. But my wife and my staff reassured me that this was a plan that would succeed. So, listening to my inner conviction, I embraced it as a challenge. It has been 14 years since we started working hard. It seems like we just got started.
Although the show was given a platform, his struggles did not end there because the audience originally disapproved of the programme. They were accustomed to seeing kitchen dramas, so they were perplexed by the absence of a heroine or vamp in this programme. Saasu maa was absent as well. The screenplay lacked any significant drama plots, and the location was a civilization rather than a haveli.
They were in a state of shock,” chuckled Modi as he recalled. He continued by saying that after watching the programme for a while, viewers realised it was all about them. “After a few months, they realised that Jethalal was truly them, and the neighbours were locals. They began to connect at that point and show us, love. Even though we had a difficult beginning, the quantity of love we have been receiving leaves little room for criticism.
The comedy stands out in part due to its flawless casting. The producer revealed that it took them about six months to complete the ensemble, adding that it was a real “battle” to locate the appropriate faces. “We wanted to make sure each actor is a good fit for the role.
In addition, we wanted them to be understandable. This is why we mostly recruited fresh faces. Dilip Joshi and I had collaborated on projects, and Disha Vakani had a theatre background. Even back then, it took some time for us to get into the routine because the majority of them had never worked on a daily show. The children, or Tappu Sena, were all new, and I believe they contributed a unique vitality to the group. The show’s actors elevated it to new heights.
