TMKOC makers begged Disha Vakani to return, co-star Jennifer Mistry opens up

The ongoing absence of actor Disha Vakani from the popular Indian television show 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' has been the subject of much speculation. Despite the show's success, Vakani, who played the beloved character Dayaben, has not returned, leading to questions about her departure and potential comeback. Recently, Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, a former cast member, spoke out about the efforts made to bring Vakani back.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Jennifer Mistry revealed that the show's producers had pleaded with Vakani to return, but their requests went unanswered. "Main haath pair jod rahi thi meri pregnancy ke time ki mujhe vaapis aana hai. In log Disha ke saamne haath pair jod rahe the. Disha ki delivery ke baad, sab kuch ke baad, woh nahi aayi toh nahi aayi (I was begging during my pregnancy that I want to return. The makers were begging



Disha to return. They pleaded with her after her delivery, but she didn’t)," Bansiwal stated.

Speculation about a toxic work culture potentially contributing to Vakani's departure was addressed by Bansiwal, who described a specific incident regarding the actress's mobility issues. "Usko seedhi chadhna mana tha toh uske liye stretcher jaisa tha, uspe bitha ke upar le jaate the. Kyunki upar shoot karna rehta tha kisi ek interior mein. (She was not allowed to climb stairs. There was a stretcher-like thing, and she was made to sit on that, and then she was taken upstairs whenever they wanted to shoot in an interior)," she explained.

'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' has been airing for 17 years, maintaining its popularity despite the departure of several key actors, including Disha Vakani, Jheel Mehta, and Bhavya Gandhi, among others.