Mumbai: Rumours surrounding Dilip Joshi’s alleged exit from ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ have been doing the rounds online, sparking speculation among fans about whether the actor was set to leave the popular sitcom.
Dismissing the reports, Dilip urged media outlets to exercise greater responsibility while reporting.
During a brief press interaction on the show’s sets on Friday, the actor spoke about the rapid spread of unverified information online and called for facts to be verified before such reports are published.
“These days, people publish all kinds of fabricated stories just to get views. I would like to request all news agencies and media houses that before you publish or print anything, please confirm it once with the production house or with the person concerned to check whether it is true or false,” he said.
Reflecting on the show’s remarkable journey, Dilip continued, “For a comedy show to run for 18 years is unbelievable in itself. Today, we have completed more than 4,750 episodes. I am grateful to God that even today, all of us are shooting with the same passion and enthusiasm, and we are trying to make people laugh.”
The actor also acknowledged the effort involved in keeping the long-running sitcom fresh.
He praised producer Asit Kumarr Modi and the writing team for consistently bringing fresh ideas and storylines to the show despite its long run.
He said, “It is not easy to keep creating new stories and episodes on fresh topics for so many years. Asit bhai and the entire writing team work extremely hard for it. They are doing a truly wonderful job, and it deserves appreciation.”
Urging media organisations to verify information before publishing it, he concluded, “I understand that we cannot police every social media account, but I sincerely request respected media houses to reach out to production teams or the celebrities themselves before running such stories. A simple phone call can prevent widespread misinformation.”
Having entertained audiences for nearly 18 years, ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ continues to enjoy a strong place in Indian television.
The show’s relatable characters, simple storytelling and light-hearted humour have helped it remain popular with viewers across generations.